Explore the ancient ruins in Ayutthaya, Thailand, home of the famous Buddha in a Banyan Tree.

What was once a golden kingdom of the ancient world? Ayutthaya is one of Thailand’s greatest heritage destinations. The city is full of Buddhist Temples, or Wat

What was once a golden kingdom of the ancient world? Ayutthaya is one of Thailand’s greatest heritage destinations. The city is full of Buddhist Temples, or Wats. This historical city is about 70 Kms from Bangkok. It's stuffed with finger-licking food, an easygoing vibe, and most importantly of all, the ancient ruins found throughout. So, here's a summarized history of these interesting remnants found in Ayutthaya.

This town was named by the same person who made Ayutthaya, the capital: King Ramathibodi. Ayutthaya was named after the name of a magical empire from Thailand's national epic, Ramakien.

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Like Wat Phra Mahathat, meaning “Monastery of the relics”. Here you’ll find this iconic Buddha Sculpture that has been consumed by tree roots. Deep in the city center is Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

Today, all the remains in Ayutthaya took about 150 years to complete in total. Plenty of places were designed from wood which didn't bear the fires that destroyed the capital; this is the reason why mainly stone temples remain. The temples are outlined in their unique Siamese style, but the construction of many temples drew upon the idea from other country's influences like Sri Lanka. There are also details of Khmer architecture as the capital evoked as a Khmer military and trading outpost. These remains were explored in 1991 and were designated by UNESCO, a World Heritage Site.

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A royal temple featuring bell-shaped chedis both tourists & locals love Wat Yai Chai Mongkon. Former home to many Thai Monks.

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This temple is known for its Reclining Buddha than there’s the Giant Buddha of Wat Phanan Choeng. A golden statue that stands 19 meters high, It’s another of Ayutthaya’s timeless treasures.

How To Get There From Bangkok

visitors need to head towards MRT Subway Station Mochit or the BTS Skytrain Station Mochit to get to the northeastern bus terminal. It's the place from where they will find buses to Ayutthaya. Several buses head to Ayutthaya regularly. Bus leaves from the Northern Bus Terminal and the trip take around 1 to 2 hours which depends on the number stops the bus takes.

Travelers can even take a picturesque train ride from the Hua Lamphong Station off the Hua Lamphong MRT Subway Station. If adventure is your type, you can opt to visit via boat, as well.

Best Time To Visit

December to February

Entrance Fee

Ayutthaya Temples consist of nine different locations, some of which have free entrance and others require a small entrance fee of 50 Baht ($1.5).
Wat Phra Si Sanphet - 50 baht
Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit: free
Wat Mahathat: 50 baht
Wat Ratchaburana: 50 baht
Wiharn at Wat Thammikarat: free
Wat Suwan Dararam, Wat Phra Ram: 50 baht
Phra Chedi Suriyothai: free
Wat Borom Phuttharam: free