Ayutthaya Guide
Ayutthaya is located 85 km north of Bangkok and is reached, when taking the highway from Bangkok, depending on the traffic, in approximately one hour. Keep going into the direction of Pathum Thani - Samkhok - Sena.
By Bus from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station it takes about 1hour 30 minutes. The bus leaves every hour. You can also catch a bus from Bangkok Northern bus station.
By Mini-van from Victory Monument, it takes about 1hour 30 minutes. A Mini-van leaves every 20 minutes or when all seats are sold out.
By train from Central Station or the old airport train station.
When arriving in Ayutthaya you can either take a Tuk-Tuk or one of the colorful city busses to reach your final destination.
Brief History
Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand, burned down in 1767 by the Burmese, still breathes the memory of the Golden Siam Area. Ruins scattered all over the long stretched city, heaps of red-brown bricks with parts of ornaments, temples that bear the memory of the greatness of this city, when The King was still present and Ayutthaya rich and wealthy. Ayutthaya profited immensely of its favorable location at the Silk Route, where trade was highly active and many Nations passed. This city was by far more developed than the rest of Thailand and a Metropolitan in the true sense of this time. Ayutthaya was then larger and counted more inhabitants than London or Paris at this time. It kept this position of being the economic and cultural center of Thailand for many hundreds of years . Cradle of the Thai Cuisine, specifically the Royal Cuisine with it's abundance of fruit and foreign herbs and spices, it added true value to Thailand.
Ayutthaya today
The Ayutthaya of today is a "green" small provincial city. Bananas and Papaya are growing on every other corner.
 
Typical Thai houses, small shags and shop-houses are seaming the streets. Tuk-Tuk's and motors are filling the roads with their noise.
Pranakhonsri Ayutthaya still offers many breathtaking places that are wrapped in a mystical atmosphere of old glory. UNESCO has listed Ayutthaya as a World Heritage site. It is still an important center of Buddhism. Temples are populated with practicing monks and nuns kepping all the temples in best conditions. It is a place to where Thai travel from far, to celebrate festivals like the Song Kran, as they feel here closer to the source of pure Buddhism. The festival of lights is when banana leaf baskets holding light candles are placed on a bed of flowers and set in rituals onto the water. In thousands they float down the rivers, creating a spectacular view.
Ayutthaya is embraced by water. Chao Phraya, the great river, passes right through Ayutthaya, carrying fertile earth that is flooding every other year the fields on its shores. The Prasak and Lopburi Rivers unite at Ayutthaya with the Chao Phraya River. Boat trips are one of the attractions you can enjoy when visiting, enjoying an authentic Thai dinner served on board during the trip. Sweet water fish and shell fish are on the menu of the local restaurants therefore of a great choice.
Ayutthaya is located not far from the Summer Palace of the King, which is open to visit for the public. Just accept it when you have to pay as a tourist more for the entry than a Thai. In other places like Switzerland, they charge a daily tourist tax, so you are still more lucky in Thailand, paying some additional Thai Baht's during such occasions, ensuring the places can be well maintained.
There were many settlements from trading companies in Ayutthaya. it was in it's past a multinational melting pot of nations. The Portuguese settlement and the Japanese settlement are worth a visit. Church bells as we know them in Europe can be also heard in Ayutthaya from churches built on the river banks.
Honda Motors, Pioneer, Sanyo, Hitachi, Minebea, Nikon and Hi-tech Nittsu (subsidiary of Nippon Express) are located in Ayutthaya Industrial Centers, located all South and outside of Ayutthaya.
Agriculture and tourism count also for a large part as source of income. The shopping center next to the City Hall, is housing Tesco Lotus, Japanese Restaurants, Svenson's ice cream parlor and loads of fashion stores, here you can find nearly anything from drug stores to mobile phone providers, as well as banks. It is truly worth a visit, as prices in Ayutthaya are significantly lower than in Bangkok
Recommended time to visit Ayutthaya is at least three days, if you have more time, it's even better then you do not have to haste from place to place but you can enjoy each minute of your visit in a more laid back way. Ayutthaya is not famous for it's nightlife but is a place to unwind or to exhaust yourself in sightseeing, nowhere else to be found in Thailand. Book a Spa-Resort and enjoy a professional Thai-Massage after a day of Tuk-Tuk's or excursions around town on a rented motor or bike. I bet you will have a good time!
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