Ayutthaya was founded in 1351 and remained the capital of Thailand for over 400 years. The Kings of Siam ruled from this location until it was brutally sacked by the Burmese in 1767. The Burmese actually attacked the city in 1569 as well but the second attack put the city into ruin. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a few day's visit.
Ayutthaya was a primary trading port as although it is in the centre of Thailand, it was accessible by rivers. It is located on an island surrounded by rivers, including the Chao Praya. The city and region became highly populated, some say up to a million people lived in the area at it's peak. Buddhism was the primary religion but tolerance was the norm. During the second Burmese sacking, the city was basically burned to the ground. There are many temple ruins that remain, similar in some ways to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We found it very intriguing, particularly because it is a tourist destination but truly had a Thai flair and really did not tend to cater to other languages. This is different than the beach side tourist areas such as Phuket and Samui. Although it made exploring more challenging, it had an authentic vibe and remains a truly spiritual place. Here are some of our pics! Please OPEN in a BROWSER to see the slide show!!!
If you are making your way into Thailand, take the time to explore this amazing place.