Historic City of Ayutthaya

Historic City of Ayutthaya essential ruins

Historic City of Ayutthaya: Essential Ruins and Landmarks

Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya served as the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom for over four centuries. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a concentrated collection of massive prangs and Buddhist monasteries. The architectural style blends Khmer influences with early Sukhothai designs, visible in the ruins of the royal palace and central temples. Key landmarks include the iconic Buddha head entwined in banyan tree roots and massive reclining Buddha images that survived the city's destruction in 1767.

Historic City of Ayutthaya: Essential Ruins and Landmarks — Map

Grassroot / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Built in 1351, this temple features three large chedis and marks the center of the old capital of Thailand.

Mr.Peerapong Prasutr / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat is a Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Karina Guzzi / CC-BY-SA

C

Buddha Head in Tree Roots

A sandstone Buddha head entwined within the aerial roots of a banyan tree. Located at Wat Mahathat, this accidental formation has become one of the most recognized symbols of the historic city.

Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Wad phraram

Established in 1369 by King Ramesuan on the cremation site of his father, King Uthong. The temple features a tall central prang surrounded by smaller chedis and sits adjacent to a large swamp.

Rex Gray / CC BY 2.0

E

Wat Ratchaburana

Founded in 1424, this temple is notable for its well-preserved Khmer-style central prang. Its underground crypt, accessible to visitors, originally housed a significant hoard of gold artifacts and mural paintings.

F

Ayutthaya Historical Park

A UNESCO World Heritage site encompassing the ruins of the former Siamese capital. The park includes the remains of the royal palace and several major temple complexes situated on an island at the confluence of three rivers.

Karina Guzzi / CC-BY-SA

G

Wat Lokkayasutha

The ruins of a former monastery featuring a massive outdoor reclining Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Sai Yat, measuring 37 meters long and 8 meters high.

Diana viera / CC-BY-SA

H

Wat Worachettharam

A 16th-century temple featuring a large, well-preserved bell-shaped chedi and a seated Buddha image. It is historically significant as a possible site for the cremation of King Naresuan the Great.

Diana viera / CC-BY-SA

I

Phra Buddha Sai Yat/Reclining Buddha

A 37-meter-long reclining Buddha statue made of brick and plaster. It represents the Buddha's entry into Nirvana and remains an active site of worship.

J

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

This museum houses a vast collection of artifacts recovered from Ayutthaya’s temple vaults, including gold treasures from Wat Ratchaburana, bronze Buddha images, and intricate wood carvings.