Trips to Ayutthaya, Thailand

Our forth day in Bangkok is to visit Ayutthaya which is one of the world heritage destinations which is recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. We booked a cab with a rental of 2000 Bath (RM200) for 8 hours trips. The journey took about 1 hour drive (about 80km)from Bangkok. The route to Ayutthaya is very simple and you won't get lost using a highway.

According to history, Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 by a Prince of U-Thong was the capital then known as Siam and one of the richest cities in Asia by the 1600s, exporting rice, animal skins and others. Ayutthaya was named after the city of Ayodhya in India, the birthplace of Rama in the Ramayana. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. The city was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. Due to this armed conflict and frequent wars between the two countries, the city was left devastated and quickly went into ruin.

Once you reach to the ancient Ayutthaya town, you will see a giant replica at the round about

The entrance and signboard of Watyaichaimongkhol.

To enter here, you just need to pay 20 bath only

Once you enter at the Watyaichamongkhol you can see

many magnificinet temples scattered around here

Our next trip is to Wat Maha That (about 10 minutes drive from Watyauchaimongkhol) a famous place of the head of Buddha monk enclosed by the roots of a big tree. It was reportedly one of the grandest temples in the ancient capital. According to the legend, this place was being attack by the Burmese which misfired and killed their king. Wat Maha That is believed to have been made in 1374 during the reign of King Borom Rachathirat 1. The current name was given during the reign of King Ramesuan [ 1388 to 1395 ]. This wat was a royal monastery and the spiritual centre of the city.

the entrance of Wat Maha That

Wat Maha That, Buddha image enclosed by the roots of a big tree. Wat Maha That was a royal monastery and has been the seat of the Sangaraja, the head of the Buddhist monks of the Kamavasi. Wat Maha That was restored once again during the reign of King Borommakot (1732-1758). If you want to take a picture, you are not allowed to stand over the Buddha's head.