the ceremonial towers, called Prangs, are still standing
the towers seem a bit unstable
Once in the Ayutthaya Historical Park we see the ruins of the old capital
Wehart Chamrunt is a Chinese style throne hall
the backside of Wat Urun, the temple of dawn
a riverside palace
On the way to the riverboat, we pass a parking lot for elephants
the Wat Pra Mahatat Buddha head is encapsulated in a big fig tree
a trip to Ayutthaya Historical Park
The city of Ayutthaya started in 1350 AD on an island in the floodplains of the
Chao Phraya River and became
the
capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, that flourished for more than 4 centuries. Around 1700 the city may have had a population of
1 million people.
Rulers like king Narai were open to foreign trade, mainly with the Dutch, as it not only brought
them wealth, but also necessary weapons for the continuous wars.
In 1767 a strong Burmese army invaded the kingdom and thoroughly
destroyed Ayutthaya. Today only ruins remain of what was once a thriving megacity.
In 1991 Ayutthaya became a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, but even today authorities struggle to stop further erosion and protect the site from an encroaching city
and increased tourism.
In March 2003 we took a guided tour to the Ayutthaya Historical Park and marveled at the still
impressive red brick buildings.
Ho Withun Thasana, aka the sages' lookout
the beautiful Aisawan Dhiphya-Asana Pavilion
A serene Buddha contemplates the restoration
body parts of destroyed statues wait for restoration
back in Bangkok
the Reclining Buddha at Wat Lokkayasutharam measures 42 meters
