Thailand's Old Capital of Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is one of Thailand's most amazing tourist sites of historical significance, and makes for a fascinating excursion from Bangkok. It is a pleasant escape from the overwhelming hustle and bustle of Thailand's capital city, but offers plenty of cultural antiquities to see amidst its lush, green parks and wide open spaces. You can get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok by bus or by train, a journey which takes about ninety minutes.

Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for about 400 years starting from the year 1350. Its cosmopolitan population which included many Europeans and people from all over the Far East, meant that Ayuttahaya was a major trading center and merchant town. But much of the city was demolished when the Burmese invaded in 1767. The replacement capital city was founded in present-day Bangkok, which is still the capital today. Today's Ayutthaya is a small, relaxed town, which is dotted by old ruins. The ancient ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

One incredibly fun and relaxing way to experience Ayuttaya is to hire a bicycle for the day and ride between the temples and ruins, which are spread out around the town. The sites are not so far apart, requiring perhaps a 5 or 10 minute ride for each leg of your journey. The Main streets can be a somewhat busy with traffic, but you can easily find short cuts and backstreets. But watch out for unleashed dogs. I was chased by a pair of dogs who kept chasing me until I hit one in the face with a can of Coke as I peddled furiously.

One of the best places to visit is the ruins at Wat Ratchaburana, which you have probably seen in photos of Ayutthaya. It sits in lush, fertile green surroundings, which provide the perfect contrast for imposing stupas. It's lots of fun to ascend the stone steps up onto the temple ramparts, and to go inside some of its buildings. You can easily imagine that you are Indiana Jones in search of priceless artifacts.