In Thailand, we booked a number of tours around Bangkok via Klook. There are so many places to explore from Bangkok by bus tour, whether it’s the floating markets in the south-west, the ancient ruins in the north or the beaches to the south-east in Pattaya. On this day, we visited a floating market and then the ruins of an ancient capital city, Ayutthaya.
At the ruins, we explored the remains of ornate prang (or spires), giants Buddhas, and sprawling palaces and temples. The history behind these ruins is that long ago the Burmese sacked the city in 1767, but even in its ruined state it is said to still hold a kind of majesty. Since 1991, these ruins known as the Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The ruins is a popular tourist destination. There were many people around from various countries, notably from mainland China. I found it nice being among people during these guided tours. It’s good when people are asking questions and are interesting in the history of the area.
We came across the head of Buddha, the Wat Mahathat, which was cool. We were allowed to take a photo of the head and a selfie, but were warned that we shouldn’t angle the photo too high as it would be disrespectful.
We were able to get up real close to the various spires at the ruins. There was almost nothing off limits, except you couldn’t stand on certain things with signs and there were security people patrolling the area so it’s best not to do anything silly or would cause damage to these ruins.
The ruins are like an labyrinth of walls and mazes. It’s easy to lose your sense of direction around the area.
We meandered around the ruins taking in the main structures. We could see where the ram-sackers caused the most damage and where gold ornaments/objects would have stood. We were told by our guide that all the gold and valuable treasures were stripped from the city during the Burmese sacking that took place. I think it would have been interesting to see what this city would have looked like had that event not occurred.
Some of the structures to this day seem very sturdy. It’s amazing how the walls are still standing. I felt very fortunate to be able to walk through these ruins so freely.
If you do decide to visit these ruins, it is best to come with a guide, because they will be able to provide the history and stories behind what happened. Without the history, these ruins don’t have much meaning. With the history in the bag, you will appreciate this experience much more.
Once you are done with the ruins, there is a nearby Buddhist temple (in the same park) that you can visit and pay your respects or just outside the ruins are heaps of hawkers/stalls, who are ready to sell you snacks and other delectable things.
So many tourists talk about Ayutthaya and these ruins as being a must-visit destination. I think it’s worth the trip. There are lots to do in the area. So, I recommend spending at least a day exploring this area. Plus the air is a lot cleaner here than it is in Bangkok.
The Ayutthaya Historical Park is located at 4 196 Khlong Tho Rd, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand:
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