Ayutthaya
Today we spent the entire day at Ayutthaya (ah-you-tie-yah) , one of the richest, politically and commercially advanced cities in the world from the mid-14th century, until it was literally destroyed by Burma 400 years later. Known as the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, it thrived and developed into a great center of regional and international trade. A cosmopolitan city, it was criss-crossed by canals, earning it the nickname “Venice of the East”. In addition to Thais the population included Chinese, Mon, Khymer, Malays, Indians and Persians. Now, all that remains are haunting ruins, that can only hint of the grandeur that once must have been.
Our first stop in Ayutthaya was the Chao San Phraya National Museum which houses thousands of artifacts which reflect glory of better times. Many of these are various images of Buddha from various regions of the kingdom. Although somewhat overwhelming in their numbers. They all reflect a sense of tranquility and peace. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed inside the museum, so you will only have my word attesting to its beauty.
We spent the main portion of our visit exploring the ruins, spires and art of this ancient wonder which once was the kingdom of 33 kings and several dynasties. In recognition of its historical and cultural importance the historical park was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 1991.
A luncheon treat – we ate on a boat that cruised down the Chao Pharaya, the same river that bisects Bangkok some 75 miles downstream. This gave us an entirely different view of the ruins at Ayutthaya, as well as a feeling as what the present city looks like from the river.
Our final experience of the day took us by yet another means of transport – elephants! A twenty minute, somewhat bumpy stroll, was great fun and made the perfect ending to a wonderful day of new experiences.
Ayutthaya
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