Ayutthaya Temples and River Cruise

One of Thailand's most famous attractions is the Ayutthaya Historical Park located just 78 km north of Bangkok. Park contains the ruins of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Ayutthaya Kingdom. The city was founded in 1350 by King Ramathibodi I, who reigned at that time in the territory of Lopburi. Ayutthaya was built on a small island, at the junction of three rivers: the Lopburi, Prasak and Chao Phraya. In 1351 the King made it the capital of his Kingdom. Ayutthaya Kingdom, with the next 35 Kings, dominated the most of Siam for over 400 years. The city prospered during the years arousing the greed of neighbouring Burma. The city suffered 23 sieges over its splendour, before being conquered and almost completely looted and destroyed on April 7th 1767. Two national heroes, General Taksin and Chao Phaya Chakri, drove out the Burmese invaders from the territories and gathered the country under the Chakri Dynasty. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya never recovered from this looting. The capital was moved to Thonburi by King Taksin, who unified the country, conquering the Lanna Kingdom to north and founded the Kingdom of Siam, initially named Rattanakosin Kingdom. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was one of the most important cities of the time with over a million inhabitants. Its location halfway between China, India and Malaysia also made it an ideal port for trade. European vessels, Japanese and Chinese used Ayutthaya as a port to trade teak wood, ivory, leather, and silk. Many of these merchants claimed that Ayutthaya was the most beautiful city they had ever seen, it became known by the nickname “Venice of the East”. In its heyday Ayutthaya had more than 1500 temples and 4000 statues, the Burmese army that defeated her in 1767 completely destroyed the city and its beautiful structures, decapitating statues to prove his power. In 1969 the Thai Fine Arts Department has started the renovation of the ruins, intensified since the site was declared a historical park in 1976. A part of Ayutthaya Historical Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Of the countless historical artefacts at least 95 sites on the island are now part of World Heritage, among these 67 are temples sites, of some buildings remain only the foundations of brick or accumulations brick yet to be restored.
What to Expect - Several companies offer one-day trip all inclusive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya with the outward journey in comfortable air-conditioned coach and the return trip on boat along the mighty Chao Phraya River with lunch on board. Some tour operators for the return cruise use modern boats that host 100 or 200 passengers, others use wooden boats and even restored teakwood rice barges. So many deals to choose from that, clearly, there are also many fares, often very different from each other. A one-day tour to Ayutthaya including the lunch cruise return trip will cost between 2,000 and 2,800 THB depending on boat and on the quality of buffet on board. Regardless of price, all excursions include tour guide and insurance, the outward journey by air-conditioned coach or minibus from your Bangkok hotel, visit to the temples and ruins of Ayutthaya Historical Park and, but not always included, at Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, entrance fees to the temples, transfer by coach to pier and the return trip on river cruise with lunch buffet on board. Departure is early in the morning, normally between 6.30 and 7.00 am, and the return to your hotel is late in the afternoon.Read More