Ayutthaya

The best time is from November to February, when the days are drier and cooler. March to May is very hot, and walking between ruins in the midday sun is hard. The rainy season runs from May to October, and some low areas flood. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to visit in any season.

The main event is the Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair, usually held in December. The old city is lit up at night, and there are performances and food stalls among the ruins.

• Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a large riverside temple with a tall central tower in the Khmer style. It is outside the main island and is especially beautiful at sunset.
• Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the royal temple of the old palace. Its three bell-shaped towers are the best-known view of Ayutthaya.
• Wat Mahathat is the temple where a stone Buddha head is held by tree roots. Do not stand higher than the head when you take a photo.
• Wat Ratchaburana has a tall central tower that you can climb to a small chamber. The paintings inside are old and fragile.
• Wat Lokkayasutha has a long reclining Buddha in the open air. It was rebuilt after being destroyed.
• Wat Phra Ram is a quiet temple by a lake, with a large tower and many trees. It is a good place for a rest from crowds.

• Sunset at the temples: Watch the light on the riverside towers in the late afternoon. Sunset is one of the best times for photos.
• River boat tour: Take a boat around the island and see the old city from the water.
• Evening temple lights: Many temples are lit up at night, and the old city looks very different after dark.
• Cycling the ruins: Pedal from temple to temple on quiet roads, with a rest in the shade at each stop.

These trips are listed from closest to farthest.

• Bang Pa-In Royal Palace: about 30 minutes by car or train south of Ayutthaya. A palace with gardens, built by Thai kings in the 17th and 19th centuries.
• Lopburi: about 1 to 1.5 hours by train or car. An old town with Khmer ruins and many monkeys near the railway station. Keep food and bags out of sight.
• Bangkok: about 1.5 to 2 hours by train or car. Many visitors make Ayutthaya a day trip from the capital.

• Bangkok is the capital, about 80 km south.
• Lopburi is an old Khmer and Thai town to the north.

• By air: The nearest major airports are in Bangkok. Don Mueang Airport (DMK) is about 60 km away and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) about 110 km. A taxi from DMK takes about 1 hour.
• By train: Trains run from Bangkok to Ayutthaya station in about 1.5 to 2 hours. Slow third-class trains are cheap. The station is on the east bank, and a short ferry crosses to the island.
• By bus and minivan: Minivans leave from Bangkok's Mo Chit area and take about 1.5 hours. They drop passengers in the town.
• By boat: Some river cruises run from Bangkok. They are slow, but they combine travel with a meal.

• Bicycle: The island is flat and bicycles are the best way to see the temples. Rentals are cheap, but the heat is strong, so start early.
• Tuk-tuks: Drivers offer tours of the main sights for a fixed time. Agree on the price and the route before you start.
• Songthaews and motorbike taxis: Useful for short trips around the town.
• On foot: Most temples on the island are too far apart for a long walk in the heat.

• Is a car worth it?: Not for the town. A car is useful if you combine Ayutthaya with Lopburi or Bang Pa-In in one day.
• Driving side: Traffic drives on the left.
• Parking: Parking is easy at the main temples. Roads inside the island can be crowded at weekends.

Ayutthaya is known for river prawns, boat noodles and sweet thin pancakes called roti sai mai. The pancakes are wrapped around threads of sweet sugar and sold at stalls near the old town.

The best eating areas are the night markets in the center and the riverside restaurants along the island's edge. Some riverside restaurants have views of the temples at sunset.

Ayutthaya is safe for visitors, and violent crime is rare.

• Heat: Carry water, wear a hat and avoid the midday sun.
• Dress code: Cover your shoulders and knees at temples. Take off your shoes where signs ask you to.
• Respect: Do not climb on ruins or Buddha statues, and do not put your head higher than a Buddha image.
• Tuk-tuk prices: Agree on the price and what is included before the tour starts.
• Water: Drink bottled water.
• Royal family: Do not speak or write badly about the monarchy. It is a serious crime in Thailand.

Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and became one of the richest cities in Asia. Traders from Europe, Persia, China and Japan came here. In 1767, a Burmese army destroyed the city, and the capital moved south, later to Bangkok.

The ruins show the age and the loss. Many Buddha statues lost their heads in the war. Wat Phra Si Sanphet was once the grandest temple on the palace grounds. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built in the 17th century in a style that looked back to older Khmer towers. The old city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

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