In 1350 on an island at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers Ramathibodi I founded the capital of the state - the city of Ayutthaya. In the XV-XVI centuries is the heyday of trade and craftsmanship, and in the early XVIII century after several years of war Ayutthaya falls into decline and the capital of Siam moved first to Thonburi, and then to Bangkok. In 1991, the historic centre of Ayutthaya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The oval-shaped city was once enclosed by a 12-kilometre-long city wall, partially preserved to this day. In the centre of the island are a historic park and the ruins of an ancient royal palace. In the northern part stands the almost untouched by time palace of the Crown Prince, which now houses a museum with a collection of Buddha statues and material evidence of the Ayutthaya era.
The most important temple of Ayutthaya - Wat Phra Sisanphet (mid XV century) is famous for three stupa-chedi, erected in honour of the first three kings of Siam. One of them houses the ashes of King Traylok. Previously there was a huge statue of a golden Buddha, but in the 18th century the Burmese destroyed the statues and the temple was almost entirely burnt down.
Wat Phra Mahathat was founded in the late 14th century. When it was excavated, many ritual objects made of gold were discovered. Across the road from it is Wat Ratchaburana (15th century) with a restored prang. Going down the steep stairs to the crypt, you can see fragments of wall paintings from the Ayutthaya period.
Wat Phra Ram is famous for its prang (XV century), which looks like a cob of corn. It is adorned with decorative figures of mythical creatures and statues of a walking Buddha. Within the vata Lokayasuttharam complex is a huge 42 metre high statue of a reclining Buddha. Since the vihan was destroyed, the statue has been standing in the open air.
