A travel piece on the Ayutthaya World Heritage Site, a couple of hours north of Bangkok.
The temples of Ayutthaya
Sun Star, 09 January 2015
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is the formal designation of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. This Siamese kingdom was founded by King U Thong when he moved to the rich floodplain of the Chao Phraya on an island surrounded by rivers in 1350 and proclaimed Ayutthaya as its capital city, the second after Sukhothai.
The kingdom rose to power and became known as the Venice of the East. It was a glittering city until the invasion of Burmese army in 1767 reduced the city to ruins.
Restoration of the ruins began in 1969. It was declared a historical park in 1976 and later declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1991.
Today, the ruins of Ayutthaya Historical Park tell a story of the city’s past splendor. This is what makes the city a must visit destination when in Thailand.
Full story here.
