Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Wat Mahathat Contents HOW TO GET THERE 6 ATTRACTIONS 8 Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 8 Amphoe Bang Pa Han 25 Amphoe Bang Pa-In 25 Amphoe Nakhon Luang 30 Amphoe Wang Noi 31 Amphoe Bang Sai 32 INTERESTING ACTIVITIES 36 Homestay 36 Bicycling 37 Elephant Back Activities 38 Boat Trip 40 EVENTS AND FESTIVALS 40 LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SOUVENIR SHOPS 45 EXAMPLE OF TOUR PROGRAMME 47 TIPS FOR VISITING A TEMPLE/ MUSEUM/ ANCIENT MONUMENT 48 FACILITIES 49 Accommodation 49 Restaurants 53 USEFUL CALL 58 Ayutthaya Historical Park Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 4 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Thai Term Glossary Ayutthaya is 76 kilometres north of Bangkok and boasts numerous magnificent ruins. Amphoe : District Such ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one Ban : Village of Indo-China’s most prosperous cities. Maenam : River Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, Mueang : Town or City a vast stretch of historical site in the heart Prang : Corn-shaped tower or sanctuary of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage since 13 Tambon : Tambon December, 1991. Ubosot or Bot : Ordination hall in a temple There were three palaces in Ayutthaya : Wihan : Image hall in a temple Grand Palace, Chantharakasem Palace or Wat : Temple the Front Palace, and Wang Lang or the Rear Note : English spelling here given tries to Palace. In addition, there were many other approximate Thai pronunciation. Posted palaces and buildings for royal visits located signs may be spelled differently. When outside the city area of Phra Nakhon Si seeking help from a Thai for direction, Ayutthaya, such as Bang Pa-In Palace at point to the Thai spellings given after each Amphoe Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Luang Building place name. at Amphoe Nakhon Luang. Ayutthaya covers 2,556.6 Square Kilometres, The ancient city of Ayutthaya or Phra Nakhon and is administratively divided into 16 districts Si Ayutthaya the Thai capital for 417 years, (Amphoes). It is conveniently accessible due is one of Thailand’s major Attractions. to good roads and a short distance from Many ancient ruins and art works can be Bangkok. seen in a city that was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong when the Thais were forced Distances from Ayutthaya city to its districts : southwards by northern neighbours. During Amphoe Bang Ban 10 Kilometres the period of Ayutthaya being the Thai capital, Amphoe Bang Pa Han 13 Kilometres 33 Kings of different dynasties ruled the Amphoe U - Thai 15 Kilometres kingdom until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Amphoe Bang Pa-in 17 Kilometres Amphoe Nakhon Luang 20 Kilometres Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 5 Amphoe Sena 20 Kilometres HOW TO GET THERE Amphoe Wang Noi 20 Kilometres By Car From Bangkok, one can get to Phra Amphoe Maha Rat 25 Kilometres Nakhon Si Ayutthaya by various routes: Amphoe Phachi 25 Kilometres 1. Take Highway No. 1 (Phahon Yothin) via Amphoe Phak Hai 29 Kilometres Pratu Nam Phra In and turn into Highway No. Amphoe Bang Sai (บางซาย) 34 Kilometres 32, then turn left to Highway No. 309 to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Amphoe Bang Sai (บางไทร) 45 Kilometres 2. Take Highway No. 304 (Chaeng Watthana) Amphoe Ban Phraek 53 Kilometres or Highway No. 302 (Ngam Wong Wan), turn Amphoe Tha Ruea 60 Kilometres right into Highway No. 306 (Tiwanon), cross Amphoe Lat Bua Luang 65 Kilometres Nonthaburi or Nuanchawi Bridge to Pathum Thani, continue on Highway No. 3111 Distances from Ayutthaya city nearby provinces : (Pathum Thani-Sam Khok-Sena) and turn right Ang Thong 10 Kilometres at Amphoe Sena into Highway No. 3263 to Suphanburi 13 Kilometres Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Saraburi 15 Kilometres 3. Take Highway No. 306 (Bangkok– Sing Buri 17 Kilometres Nonthaburi–Pathum Thani), at Pathum Thani Bridge Intersection, turn into Highway No. 347 Bangkok 20 Kilometres and 3309 via Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre, Amphoe Bang Pa-in, to Phra BOUNDARY Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. North Connects to Lop Buri, Ang Thong 4. Take Expressway No.9 (Si Rat Expressway) and Saraburi. via Nonthaburi-Pathum Thani and down to South Connects to Pathum Thani and Highway No. 1 via Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts Nonthaburi. and Crafts Centre, turn left into Highway East Connects to Saraburi. No. 3469 towards Bang Pahan and turn right West Connects to Suphan Buri. at Worachet Intersection to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. By Bus There are Standard 1 air-conditioned buses and Standard 2 air-conditioned buses leaving the Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal 6 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road) for Phra Nakhon By Boat Travelling by boat to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya from 05.30 a.m.–07.00 p.m. Si Ayutthaya is popular among foreigners For more details, please call 1490, 0 2936 since it does not only reveal the beauty 2852 www.transport.co.th, Ayutthaya Bus as well as lifestyle of the people on both sides Terminal, Tel. 1490, 0 3533 5413. of the Chao Phraya River, but also reflects By Train Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is the life in history at the time of the accessible by both northbound and northeast Ayutthaya Kingdom when the Chao Phraya River bound trains. Leaving Bangkok Railway Station served as a channel of How To Get There in (Hua Lamphong) daily, the trains pass by the trading with foreign countries. province’s Amphoe Bang Pa-in, Amphoe Phra Cruise to Ayutthaya The luxurious cruise from Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Amphoe Phachi, Bangkok to the former capital of Ayutthaya where at Ban Phachi Junction the railway is operated by Anantara Tel. 0 2476 0021-2, lines separate to the North and Northeast. Chao Phraya Princess Cruise Tel. 0 2860 Then, mini-buses can be taken from the 3700, River Sun Cruise Tel. 0 2266 9316, railway station into the city. 0 2266 9125-6. A Bangkok-Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya train Transportation in Ayutthaya : pulled by a steam locomotive is usually From Ayutthya, mini-buses can be taken provided by the State Railway of Thailand from the railway station into the city. Hiring a on 3 special occasions every year. The mini-bus within Ayutthaya costs between first one is on 26 March which marks the 400-500 Baht/day. For travelling between establishment of the State Railway of Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-in, mini-buses Thailand and the inauguration day of regularly leave Chao Prom Market, Chao Prom Thailand’s first railway line between Bangkok- Road starting from 06.00 a.m. The fare is Nakhon Ratchasima in 1890. The second, about 30 Baht. The trip takes 50 minutes. 23 october-the memorial day of King Rama V, founder of the Thai railways. And the third, 5 December-the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. For more information, please contact the State Railway of Thailand at Tel. 0 2220 4334, 1690 www.railway.co.th, and Ayutthaya Railway Station at Tel. 0 3524 1521. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 7 ATTRACTIONS technological system such as the Computer Touch Screen/Ghost Box. There are 5 sections Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya of the exhibition. Section 1 presents the Ayutthaya Tourism Centre (ศูนยทองเที่ยว glorious past of the civilisation. Section 2 อยุธยา–ATC) The centre is located at the showcases attractions within the province. province’s old city hall established by Section 3 is on its architecture constructed the Fine Arts Department and developed on the basis of religious beliefs about the to be a tourist information centre by the Three Worlds and cosmology. Section 4 Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The high introduces the lifestyle of the people of reliefs of 6 great kings and queens from the Ayutthaya. Section 5 concludes the exhibition Ayutthaya Kingdom; namely, King U Thong, through a video presentation on “Life in the King Borommatrailokanat, Queen Suriyothai, Historical City of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya”. King Naresuan the Great, King Narai the Great Open daily except for Wednesday during and King Taksin the Great on the facade of 09.00 a.m.–04.00 p.m. Tel. 0 3532 4177. the building remain in their original positions. Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre 1st Floor The right wing in the front serves (ศูนยศึกษาประวัติศาสตรอยุธยา) Located on as TAT’s Tourist Information Centre. Open Rotchana Road, this centre is a national daily during 08.30 a.m. - 04.30 p.m. For more research institute devoted to the study details, please call Tel. 0 3532 2730–1. of Ayutthaya, especially during the period nd 2 Floor Exhibition on Phra Nakhon Si when Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand. Ayutthaya’s tourism presented through a high The Centre is responsible for the museum Ayutthaya Tourism Centre 8 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya of the history of Ayutthaya, which exhibits also permitted to sail their junks to trade reconstructions from the past. The Centre with foreigners. A number of them came to also supports an information service and a Ayutthaya and were granted royal permission library containing historical materials about by the Thai King at that time to settle around Ayutthaya. the city island of the Ayutthaya Kingdom The Centre is open Tuesday-Sunday from like the traders of other nationalities. There 09.00 a.m.-04.30 p.m., official holidays from were more and more Japanese coming to 09.00 a.m.-05.00 p.m. For more details Ayutthaya ever since. A Japanese headman please contact Tel. 0 3524 5123, 08 1853 5123. at that time was Nagamaza Yamada. He Admission fee is 100 Baht. was a favourite of King Song Tham and was appointed Okya Senaphimuk before being Institute of Ayutthaya Studies (สถาบัน promoted to be the Ruler of Nakhon Si อยุธยาศึกษา) situated in Phra Nakhon Si Thammarat where he lived till the end of Ayutthaya Rajabhat University, is a complex his life.