Ayutthaya Province
 Ayutthaya province map. Click on any of the sights to find out more, or check out the summaries below. |
Ayutthaya province is home to Thailand's former capital, the golden city of Ayutthaya, center of an empire that dominated almost all of Southeast Asia and lasted 400 years, until it was destroyed and sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Despite the destruction, some impressive sights still remain. Mosts tourists visit the city on a day trip from Bangkok, even though it could well be worth a few days for anyone interested in ancient architecture.
In addition to Ayutthaya City, there are a couple of other very interesting places to take in. Nearest to Bangkok is the Bang Sai Royal Arts and Crafts Center. About halfway between Bang Sai and Ayutthaya City is the summer palace of Bang Pa In.
You can book tours to many of the sights described here through our travel partner Viator.
Bang Sai
Founded by Her Majesty the Queen to help ensure the survival of traditional Thai handicrafts, the Bang Sai Royal Arts and Crafts Center has become something of a true cultural theme park.
Bang Pa In Summer Palace
 The Bang Pa In summer palace. |
A relatively modern royal retreat on an island in the Chao Phraya river. A rather tour-de-force in styles ranging from Thai houseboat to art nouveau to Chinese pagoda.
Ayutthaya City
 Wat Chai Wattanaram, one of many remains from Siam's golden age. |
The town of Ayutthaya itself lies in the center of the province, on an island formed by the confluence of the Chaophraya, Lopburi and Pasak Rivers. The city was founded in 1351 and became the capital of the Siamese empire that ultimately became modern-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya period was definitely Thailand's "Golden Age." Although sacked and destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, there's still quite a bit to see.
Day Trips
Listed below are any day trips currently available from Viator. These trips depart from Bangkok and visit all or part of the sights in Ayutthaya province.
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Thailand's Ayutthaya Temples and River Cruise from Bangkok  Duration: 9 hours | $ 58.29 SPECIAL |
Visit the Ayutthaya temples on a cultural day trip from Bangkok, it's a highlight of any Thailand visit. The tour to the ancient capital of Siam includes a trip by riverboat, a must-do activity when you're in Bangkok, with close-up views of the temples and historic sites that line the Chao Phraya River. The Unesco World Heritage site of Ayutthaya is 53 miles (85 kilometers) north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya was a thriving Siamese kingdom from 1350 until 1767, when it was captured by the Burmese. Today, Ayutthaya is know for its spectacular ruins and temples. Many of its temples are still intact, such as Wat Phra Sanphet, Wat Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Panangcherng and Wat Chai Mongkol, known for its large bronze statue of the Reclining Buddha. You will also see the summer palace of King Rama IV with its mixture of Thai, Chinese and Gothic architecture. The palace is a well-preserved 'museum', providing a glimpse into a time when Thailand was known as Siam. On your full-day guided excursion from Bangkok you have a choice of visiting Thailand's former ancient capital by boat and returning to Bangkok by van, or vice-versa. During the boat cruise to or from Ayutthaya you will see temples such as Wat Arun lining the Chao Phraya River. Special Offer - Save 10% off the recommended retail price. Special offer valid for travel to March 31, 2010 - BOOK NOW! | ||