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The Kingdom of Ayutthaya is an astonishing ancient city in Thailand that originated nearly 700 years ago and thrived for more than 400 years.
Historically, Ayutthaya served as the capital of Thailand and remains a significant destination for visitors in Thailand!
Today, it exists as a city and a broader province within Thailand, distinguished by its extensive history and the preservation of cultural heritage from the ancient Kingdom.
Due to its vast area, experiencing all of Ayutthaya’s historical sites in detail within a single day is indeed challenging.
Moreover, this area comprises multiple sections housing distinct ruins, which are managed independently. Consequently, visitors will encounter various entry fees for accessing different locations.
While the expenses are modest, it is worth considering as this necessitates strategic planning to optimize your visit according to any time limitations.
This article will be primarily visual, emphasizing the beauty of the sites, rather than detailed historical narratives.
Additionally, exploring these historical landmarks in person undoubtedly provides richer contextual understanding, enhancing the experience significantly.
Nonetheless, I will provide accurate names for each site, so you are informed of where to visit and can have reasonable expectations beforehand.
We will commence our exploration with Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, following our visit to Wat Phanan Choeng and the remarkable Bang Pa-In Royal Palace.
I mentioned earlier that I would refrain from providing historical context; however, it is essential to highlight that Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is a 600-year-old monastery, truly remarkable to witness!
Here is what it looks like.
Wat Mahathat, also comparable in age to Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, is undoubtedly another essential location while in Ayutthaya; here is the reason!
Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the Temple of the Holy, Splendid Omniscient, marked our next destination.
This temple is over 600 years old and, contrary to common assumptions, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was never home to monks.
Instead, this site was designated for the royal family and used exclusively for royal ceremonies, serving as the holiest temple within the royal palace when Ayutthaya was the capital state of Thailand.
Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit was our final destination for the day (located adjacent to Wat Phra Si Sanphet). This temple also represents centuries of history and offers remarkable insights into the antiquity of Thailand and the former Kingdom of Ayutthaya.
Completing our journey, we departed from Ayutthaya and headed back to Bangkok.
Ayutthaya proved to be an extraordinary experience and is a location we would eagerly revisit to explore even more in this magnificent city.
Explore the first segment of our journey to Ayutthaya in the post below:
Journey To The Ancient Kingdom Of Ayutthaya, Thailand
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