Ayutthaya Historical Park ,World Heritage

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About : Ayutthaya Historical Park ,World Heritage

          The Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Ayutthaya was strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers connecting the city to the sea. This site was chosen because it was located above the tidal bore of the Gulf of Siam as it existed at that time, thus preventing attack of the city by the sea-going warships of other nations. The location also helped to protect the city from seasonal flooding.
        The city was attacked and razed by the Burmese army in 1767 who burned the city to the ground and forced the inhabitants to abandon the city. The city was never rebuilt in the same location and remains known today as an extensive archaeological site.
        At present, it is located in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The total area of the World Heritage property is 289 ha. Once an important center of global diplomacy and commerce, Ayutthaya is now an archaeological ruin, characterized by the remains of tall prang (reliquary towers) and Buddhist monasteries of monumental proportions, which give an idea of the city’s past size and the splendor of its architecture.
        Well-known from contemporary sources and maps, Ayutthaya was laid out according to a systematic and rigid city planning grid, consisting of roads, canals, and moats around all the principal structures. The scheme took maximum advantage of the city’s position in the midst of three rivers and had a hydraulic system for water management which was technologically extremely advanced and unique in the world.
        Criterion : The Historic City of Ayutthaya bears excellent witness to the period of development of a true national Thai art.
(source UNESCO )

Area of the world heritage property (source UNESCO )

Area of the world heritage property

Location : Ayutthaya Historical Park ,World Heritage

         Ayutthaya ,Thailand.

Go to destination : Ayutthaya Historical Park ,World Heritage

Map of Ayutthaya Historical Park 

"To Do" in Ayutthaya Historical Park ,World Heritage 

Map of Ayutthaya Historical Park

         Ancient places and around area in Ayutthaya Historical Park that should not be missed.

     1. Wat Khudeedao
     2. Wat Yai Chaimongkhon
     3. Wat Phanan Choeng 
     4. Phra Suwandararam
     5. Phra Mongkhon Bophit
     6. Wat Phra Si Sanphet
     7. Wat Phra Ram
     8. Wat Mahathat
     9. Wat Ratchaburana
     10. Wat Mae Nang Pleum
     11. Wat Thammikarat
     12. Wat Na Phra Mane
     13. Wat Lokaya Sutha
     14. Wat Kasatrathirat Worawihan 
     15. Wat Thammaram
     16. Wat Chaiwatthanaram
     17. Wat Phutthaisawan

          I visited Ayutthaya historical park several times. I have written map for planning a trip to Ayutthaya Historical Park is easily accessible by car. (see map below). 

Maps for planning a trip to Ayutthaya Historical Park

         This is one place you should not miss to visit. Enjoy your trip.

Download high resolution photos : Ayutthaya Historical Park 

Sukhothai Historical Park

Wat Chaiwatthanaram ,the special architectural adopted for religious place which can only be found at here.

Thai | English

       

 About  : Wat Chaiwatthanaram

          The temple was constructed in 1630 by the king Prasat Thong as the first temple of his reign, as a memorial of his mother's residence in that area. The temple's name literally means the Temple of long reign and glorious era. It was designed in Khmer style which was popular in that time.

Main Pagoda / Prang

          It has a central 35 meter high prang in Khmer style  with four smaller prangs. The whole construction stands on a rectangular platform. About halfway up there are hidden entrances, to which steep stairs lead.
          The central platform is surrounded by eight chedi-shaped chapels which are connected by a rectangular cross-shaped passage (Phra Rabieng). The passage had numerous side entries and was originally roofed and open inwards, but today only the foundations of the pillars and the outside wall still stand. Along the wall, there were 120 sitting Buddha statues, probably painted in black and gold.

Spired Roof Hall / Meru Thit – Meru Rai

          The eight chedi-like chapels are formed in a unique way. They had paintings on the interior walls, the exterior ones decorated by 12 reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Buddha (Jataka), which must be "read" clockwise. Just fragments of the paintings and the reliefs survived. In each of the rectangular chedis were two sitting Buddha statues and in each of the four middle chedis was one big sitting Buddha statue, also lacquered in black and gold. The ceiling over those statues was of wood with golden stars on black lacquer.
          Outside of the passages on the east, close to the river was the temple's ordination hall (Phra Ubosot). North and south from the Ubusot stood two chedis with "12 indented corners", in which the ashes of the king's mother were laid.
(source : Tourism Authority of Thailand )
          
Location : Wat Chaiwatthanaram
         Ayutthaya ,Thailand.

Go to destination : Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Admission fee

         Foreigner 50 baht.

Map / Reconstructed Model : Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Map of Wat Chaiwatthanaram

(source : information billboard )

         

1. Main Pagoda / Prang
2. Ordination Hall / Ubosot
3. Spired Roof Hall / Meru Thit – Meru Rai
4. Pagoda / Chedi
5. Cloister
6. Limestone Kiln

Arrival : Wat Chaiwatthanaram

(Date taken : Nov 11,2016 ,Oct 23,2013 and Sep 8,2013)  

         Wat Chaiwatthanaram affected by the floods in 2012. I went to Wat Chaiwatthanaram in 2013, the place was renovating.

         I visited here several times and I was the last to Nov 11, 2016.

         

           Main Pagoda / Prang (No.1) ,it has a central 35 meter high prang in Khmer style  with four smaller prangs. The whole construction stands on a rectangular platform. About halfway up there are hidden entrances, to which steep stairs lead.

Main Pagoda / Prang

Main Pagoda / Prang

          Ordination Hall / Ubosot (No.2) ,close to the Chao Praya river.

          Spired Roof Hall / Meru Thit – Meru Rai (No.3) , they are constructed around the Main Pagoda (Prang) in eight direction ,in the form of high spired roof halls with seven tiers. The eight Merus are connected by cloisters ,in the chamber of each Meru shelters a sitting Buddha image in the attitude of "Victory of Mara". Traces of mural paintings are found on the inner walls (source : information billboard )

          Stucco relief panel depicting the scene from the life of the Buddha.

       
         In the chamber of each Meru shelters a sitting Buddha image.

          Cloister(No.5) 

           This is one place you should not miss to visit.Enjoy your trip.          

Download high resolution photos : Wat Chaiwatthanaram.

Wat Phutthaisawan ,one of the oldest temples in Ayutthaya ,Thailand 

Wat Khudeedao ,Ayutthaya Historical Park 

Wat Thammaram ,place that are associated with the history of Buddhism
Wat Mahathat
Wat Na Phra Mane
Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair 2015
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Thammikarat where the king would visit the temple on Buddhist holy days to listen to the sermon
Wat Kasatrathirat Worawihan , ancient temple , Ayutthaya Historical Park, world heritage
Wat Mae Nang Pleum
Wat Niwet Thamprawat Ratworawihan is considered the one and only European architectural style temple in Thailand

Wat Phutthaisawan ,one of the oldest temples in Ayutthaya ,Thailand.

Thai | English

       

 About  : Wat Phutthaisawan

          Wat Phutthaisawan is considered to be one of the oldest temples in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The complex encompasses a long history that spans back to the rise of Ayutthaya city. Up until present, the land around the temple has been the home to numerous communities of Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, French and Muslims.
          According to some Royal Chronicles, King U-Thong commissioned the construction of the monastery on the location known as “Wiang Lek”, the site of what was once the king’s original residence before he established Ayutthaya as the capital. Standing parallel to the river, the temple grounds open to greet the East and are dominated by the prominence of a central tower-like spire known as a prang. The front is lined by a large wihan (shrine hall) and beyond the principal prang to the West lies an ubosot (ordination hall). This layout was commonly found during the early Ayutthaya period.
(source : Tourism Authority of Thailand )
          
Location : Wat Phutthaisawan
         Ayutthaya ,Thailand.

Go to destination : Wat Phutthaisawan

Arrival : Wat Phutthaisawan
(Date taken : Nov 11,2016 and Jun 25,2012 )  

         The view from the boat  on the Chao Phraya river.

          At the temple

         The ubosot (the ordination hall). 

          Signs to visit historic sites.

          Prang Prathan.

          The area around Prang Prathan.

          The reclining buddha vihar.

           The area  near the reclining buddha vihar.

           This is one place you should not miss to visit.Enjoy your trip. 

Download high resolution photos : Wat Phutthaisawan.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram ,the special architectural adopted for religious place which can only be found at here

Wat Khudeedao ,Ayutthaya Historical Park 

Wat Thammaram ,place that are associated with the history of Buddhism
Wat Mahathat
Wat Na Phra Mane
Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair 2015
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Thammikarat where the king would visit the temple on Buddhist holy days to listen to the sermon
Wat Kasatrathirat Worawihan , ancient temple , Ayutthaya Historical Park, world heritage
Wat Mae Nang Pleum
Wat Niwet Thamprawat Ratworawihan is considered the one and only European architectural style temple in Thailand