Ayutthaya

beng — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:33:29 +0000

Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. The city was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam. It is estimated that Ayutthaya by the year 1600 CE had a population of about 300,000, with the population perhaps reaching 1,000,000 around 1700 CE, making it one of the world’s largest cities at that time.

Magnificent reclining Buddha

In 1767 the city was destroyed by the Burmese army, resulting in the collapse of the kingdom. The ruins of the old city now form the Ayutthaya historical park, which is recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was refounded a few kilometers to the east. The city is sometimes called “Venice of the East.

Gold leaf is offered on the toenails

Ayutthaya was named after the city of Ayodhya in India, the birthplace of Rama in the Ramayana (Thai, Ramakien).

For more information about tours to Ayutthaya, please contact discovery@kechara.com or call +603 7803 3546.

Immense stone Buddha Shakyamuni

Making offerings to Buddha Shakyamuni

Close up of the reclining Buddha

A traditional Thai chedi (stupa)

The ruins of the old city

The phrang at Wat Phra Ram

Many offerings surround the Buddha images

Traditional Thai Buddhist images with plentiful gold offerings

The immense 19 meter high seated bronze Buddha in Wat Phanan Choeng

This fig tree grew around a Buddha head in Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya historical park

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Ayutthaya