Ayutthaya the ancient capital of Siam - head hunting

The trip to Ayutthaya was rather strange. From the most vivid memories - how I was lying in a stuffy guest house with a high temperature in a half-forgotten state, and by no means temples. But I managed to see them and the famous Buddha's head too, so I don't regret anything, the place is interesting. However, first things first.

Having enjoyed a week in Chiang Mai, I decided to go to Bangkok via Ayuthaya. All transport passes through it anyway. I bought a ticket Chiang Mai - Bangkok for a night bus, explained to the driver that I needed not the end point, but Ayutthaya and hit the road.

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From the highway to Ayutthaya

Early in the morning, even after dark, they put me off right on the highway, and not at the bus station. The navigator suggested that the city is about 5 kilometers from here. There were motorbikes and taxis at the landing site. Taxit wanted 200 baht, although it’s nonsense to go there, and I naturally didn’t know the price of a motorcycle bike where I was going with my hiking backpack. Crossing the pedestrian bridge to the other side (again, I looked at the navigator that I needed to cross the road), I asked the Thai how to get there. He replied that a 7 baht songteo runs from here. Literally in 10 minutes I was already on the minibus. Not a sickly difference, 7 baht or 200?

Songteo brought me directly to the bass station, it is convenient to settle here: minivans leave for Bangkok every hour, there is a bike rental for 200-250 baht, several guesthouses to choose from, a market, and the most ancient capital is not far away. Therefore, I did not even choose a specific place or area, but immediately found a guest house and settled in. About budget hotels in Ayutthaya, read the link. A complete list of hotels in Ayutthaya can be seen at search service RoomGuru, and book there. In the season, it is better to do this in advance, otherwise there will be no numbers, I almost did it, I took the last one and waited a long time until it was free.

Ayutthaya - the ancient capital of Siam

Once upon a time, from the 14th to the 18th century, Ayutthaya was the capital. They say it was a big beautiful city with a million inhabitants, but then a civil war began and the Burmese captured, burned and destroyed it. Then the capital was moved to Bangkok. Now Ayuthaya is a small provincial town with a bunch of ruins, which in 1991 were included in the UNESCO list.

Personally, I like it more Sukhothai, since it is more soulful, more abandoned and mysterious than Ayuthaya, so I usually advise everyone to go there. On the other hand, you can come to Ayutthaya for just one day, because Bangkok is very close (how to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya), only 60 km.

Despite the crowds of tourists, it is not bad here so you can wander around, sit and think, and enjoy the views of the ancient ruins. The territory of the ancient capital is large, there is where to hide from the eyes, it is enough just to get away from the main temples, and then there will be no one there.

In total, I looked at 4 churches, although on the map in the guest house they circled me 5 must see pieces. But there are much more temples here, dozens, if not hundreds. It's just that many of them are a bunch of stones or are similar to each other, so they don't cause any interest. But this does not mean that you do not need to watch anything else. The entrance is paid (50 baht) only to the main temples, the rest are free.

Each temple has its own territory, and these territories are sometimes adjacent to each other, and sometimes not. Between these territories, you move along asphalt roads, for example, on rented scooter (200-300 baht / day) or bike (40 baht / day), but the territory itself can only be reached on foot. The temples are separated by ponds, bridges, paths, beautifully. You just need to remember that in extreme heat (and it is very hot there, as a rule), you can't hit a lot on the bike, and I was sometimes hot on the bike. Moreover, the bicycles there are so-so, ordinary city.

Ayuthaya is surrounded by rivers

Ayuthaya is surrounded by rivers

Channel ponds dividing the temples

Channel ponds dividing the temples

The life of ordinary people

The life of ordinary people

You can wash the wheels in the nearest canal

You can wash the wheels in the nearest canal

Ayutthaya Monster Bus

Ayutthaya Monster Bus

Ayuttai tuk-tuks are not like others

Ayuttai tuk-tuks are not like others

Something not Thai at all, but did not come closer

Something not Thai at all, but did not come closer

I travel on a bike

I travel on a bike

Wat mahathat

One of the most popular temples, because everyone comes to see the head of the Buddha, entwined with the roots of a tree, which has already become a symbol of Ayutthaya. As I understand it, when the temple was destroyed by the Burmese, the statues were smashed and thrown into the ground. And since the temple stood abandoned for about 100 years, trees grew there, and one of them pulled this head out with its roots. Apart from the head, there are only ruins, little has survived.

Entrance 50 baht.

Buddha among the ruins and trees

Buddha among the ruins and trees

The famous Buddha head in the roots of a tree

The famous Buddha head in the roots of a tree

Usually there are many more people here.

Usually there are many more people here.

Exhibition of Headless Buddhas

Exhibition of Headless Buddhas

The wall is about to fall, held by a support

The wall is about to fall, held by a support

One of the many groups

One of the many groups

Wat mahathat

Wat mahathat

Almost a chameleon, barely noticed

Almost a chameleon, barely noticed

Thai still life

Thai still life

Wat Ratchaburana

On Google maps, it is designated as Wat Rat Praditthan, but this is a mistake. I remember it by the fact that it was possible to go inside to the prang. Usually they are either closed or there are no voids. Wat Ratchaburana has a small hall inside, from which a steep narrow staircase goes down. I went down of course, but there is a dead end.

Entrance 50 baht.

Wat Ratchaburana

Wat Ratchaburana

During the day everyone is so sleepy-kind, and at night they are angry

During the day everyone is so sleepy-kind, and at night they are angry

Constructor - assemble Buddha

Constructor - assemble Buddha

Why not take a break, work is not a wolf

Why not take a break, work is not a wolf

Corn approaching

Corn approaching

Wat Ratchaburana in the woods

Wat Ratchaburana in the woods

Inside the hall with lighting

Inside the hall with lighting

View of Ayutthaya

View of Ayutthaya

And a dark corridor goes down, the photo is lightened

And a dark corridor goes down, the photo is lightened

But at its end there is a dead end and a light bulb

But at its end there is a dead end and a light bulb

Sometimes the roads turn into beautiful alleys

Sometimes the roads turn into beautiful alleys

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

The largest temple in Ayutthaya and here the most people. Known for his three chedi, standing in a row. They were badly destroyed, and now we see them restored. Around full of shapeless ruins, you can imagine how it all looked not so long ago.

Entrance 50 baht.

Modern Viharn next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Modern Viharn next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Thai squirrels eat rice too

Thai squirrels eat rice too

Wat Phra Si Sanphet - old stupas

Wat Phra Si Sanphet - old stupas

Except for stupas, everything else is ruins.

Except for stupas, everything else is ruins.

Big, massive

Big, massive

Here you will also be offered elephant rides

Here you will also be offered elephant rides

Wat Lokkayasutharam

All that remains of this temple is a statue of the Reclining Buddha. There is nothing else here, no stupas, no other buildings. Well, more precisely, behind the statue there is a brick and «corn» small, but that doesn't count. I noticed how Thais do business here - they sell lotus flowers, and as soon as the worshiper of Buddha leaves, they take the flowers back to their stall.

Free admission.

Near the Reclining Buddha

Near the Reclining Buddha

Wat Lokkayasutharam - Reclining Buddha

Wat Lokkayasutharam - Reclining Buddha

Business Thai - takes the lotuses back to the counter

Business Thai - take the lotuses back to the counter

Traditional trash

Traditional trash

Initially, I came here to see live the famous head of the Buddha, entwined with roots. Her photograph has sunk into my soul. And in principle, apart from the above-described temples, there is nothing else you can look at. So for everything about everything, one day will definitely be enough for you. And if you use transport, you can catch even more. On the other hand, why unnecessary haste, you can stretch everything for several days, penetrating the place.

Unfortunately, I had no choice. I came here already ill, and on the first day, when on the way to the next church, I realized that the world was floating before my eyes, I immediately retreated to the guesthouse, where I spent the next two days, almost without getting up. I only went for water. By the way, I checked once again that hunger + water + lime + ginger, puts you on your feet quite quickly, much faster than taking medicine.

Ayuthaya on the map of Thailand

Attractions in Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya Attractions:

Ayuthaya map with all the temples (click large)

Ayuthaya map with all the temples (click large)