Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya town and former capital of the Tai state Ayutthaya in central Thailand, about 89 km north of Bangkok. It is site of great temples and other historically and architecturally important structures. Ayutthaya was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. The designated World Heritage Site area, which is limited to the site of the former Royal Palace and its close surroundings, encompasses the most important sites and monuments and provides for the conservation of the property's outstanding universal value. Founded in 1350, the Historic City of Ayutthaya was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. It prospered from the 14th century until the 18th century, during which time it became one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world and a center of global diplomacy and trade. The city was strategically located on an island encircled by three rivers that linked the city to the sea. It is often referred to as Krung Kao, has flourished for more than 400 years and in its heyday was home to hundreds of thousands of residents. The city is crisscrossed by numerous canals and the water is dotted with houseboats and shop boats, and pagodas and imposing spires in abundance. The Wat Phra Si Sanphet Monastery was a royal chapel and once housed an image of the Buddha, covered with around 170 kg of gold. The city is now an archaeological ruin, characterized by the remains of high prang and monumental Buddhist monasteries, which provide an insight into the former size and splendor of the city's architecture.