Bangkok has now reached such a scale that visitors can always be forgiven for thinking that the capital of Thailand. But this is not the case. In fact, since 13 century, and the third, the two main centers of the north of Sukhothai (1238-1351 AD) and Ayutthaya. Bangkok was only the center of government since 1782 and the current Grand Palace, which almost all the visitors was actually modeled on the style of the old palace of Ayutthaya. Tomore than 400 years, from 1351 to 1767, Ayutthaya was ruled by Thailand in a time of historically known as Thailand, "Golden Age".
At its peak, the ancient city of Ayutthaya was truly a thriving center of a nation that was the most powerful in Southeast Asia for several centuries until his dismissal and sacked by the Burmese in 1767. In their desire to acquire the shopping center, Ayutthaya was because of its control of lucrative trade routes, the destruction of many Burmesestyle temple of Angkor and took back an unlimited amount of wealth in the form of artifacts and jewels in Burma. Even if he has gone from less than six months, was the capital of the Burmese kingdom of Ayutthaya as the thoroughness of its destruction at the end of what was "the jewel of the East."
Thailand
But perhaps due to its proximity to Bangkok to Ayutthaya (86 km) is once again a thriving city with more than half a million people and the ruins of AyutthayaCivilization attract many visitors in their own right. But as the colorful markets, fine restaurants and quiet floating you are surrounded by noisy compared to Bangkok.
For maximum protection of their homeland, took the ancient rulers of Ayutthaya served three nearby rivers which have connected them surrounded by her impressive city canals, so as to prevent a natural moat around the city in large part to intruders. They were courted during this time experienced JapaneseMerchants, their settlement on the outskirts of the city, across the ditch, and were soon joined by other settlements, built by British, French and Portuguese traders from Europe.
The kings who reigned Ayutthaya built walls and fortifications, and the moat, the remains of which are still in some places in the old part of town. And the hundreds of temples were built, there are enough of them remaining todayyou imagine, back in the golden age of prosperity in Thailand. If you close your eyes for a moment near an old ruin, it is not hard to imagine hordes of silk Thais dressed in their national dress pants cut to carry out their activities on the calf of the day. The city is still three rivers (Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lop Buri) and a good way to get around to visiting the city, take the three and a half hour boat trip on the ChaoPhraya River in Bangkok, again on the road or track, which is about an hour and a trip and a half.
During a visit to Ayutthaya, to get an idea of the city, is a good idea to travel by boat again, with a tour of the island circumnavigatory. The boats leave from the terminal market and the trip takes about an hour. They are Wang Luang (the remains of the old wooden palace buildings), Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya the Centre for Studies and spend two museums – 'sChao Sam Phraya and Chandra Kasem.
Your boat trip around the island and further research, exploring with you some ideas on how you want. A temple, which is particularly interesting is the Wat Phra Ram above, which was founded in the 1369th And 'situated in a beautiful garden with a lotus in a pond from the ruins of the temple enigmatic sets around. The view of the pressing question of how people could in those daysdesigned and implemented as complex structures and artistic works and with the technology they had.
Another worth visiting old temple, which is still in good condition of Wat Phra Si Sanphet founded in about 1448th the three bell-shaped chedi (sacred Buddhist relics anchoring) sites are flanked by two columns vihara (assembly halls and chapels) and is surrounded by images of sand and stone Buddha.
Before leaving Ayutthaya, a must if you want to go homewith long-term memories is a visit to the Museum Chao Sam Phraya. We'll see how Siam was influenced by the Mon and Khmer civilization. They see well-preserved remains of mythological figures and Buddha images from Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. And you also have the possibility of some fabulous glittering treasures of gold and jewels in the east room of the museum, which were found in Wat Ratchaburana, fortunately, not one of only sacked by the Burmese as washing. The signsGold on the display, the intricate headdress, decorated war elephants laden with litter, handle of a sword with a sheath of a crystal and precious stones, give all these artifacts and more an indication of how long the fabulous city of Ayutthaya it should be.
Thailand's ancient capital Ayutthaya
