Ayutthaya - UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991

Ayutthaya Historical Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991

Ayutthaya Historical Park is located 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Bangkok - Drive 1 - 1.30 hours from Bangkok, where is one of the best history site with the beautiful ruin temples that you can make in one day from Bangkok.

Ayutthaya was once the capital of Thailand in 1350 - 1767. Ayutthaya is a massive maze of temples that spreads over 289 hectares (720 acres) Ayutthaya city was built like an island surrounded by three rivers that connected the city to the sea. This strategic location protected the kingdom from invaders as well as floods.

This amazing location helped Ayutthaya develop into one of the largest urban areas in the world. It became a hub of diplomacy and trade. In the 16th century, it was described by foreign traders as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East.

The Burmese invaded Ayutthaya in 1765 and took the city after two bloody years of fighting. They stole the kingdom’s treasures, enslaved the people, and burned many of the Ayutthaya temples to the ground.

Rather than rebuild, the king had the capital moved down the river to Thonburi. The ruins of the Ayutthaya temples were restored centuries later. Nowadays, Ayutthaya was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1991.