Ayutthaya

Known as the second capital of Siam, this ancient city is a must-see for visitors to South East Asia. Located just 85 kilometres north of Bangkok, this is a popular and easy day trip for tourists. Ayutthaya was a central hub of trade for centuries due to its ideal location between China, India and the Malay Archipelago.
Located at the junction of three rivers, the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak, Ayutthaya was ideal for trade and became one of the largest cities in the world by 1700, with a population of more than 1 million residents. Sadly, in 1767, the city was burned to the ground by the Burmese and quickly lost its position and a trading hub in the region.

The ruins that are left give us just a glimpse into the power and opulence of the original city as there are very few buildings left. Most of the buildings that remain in ancient Ayutthaya are temples and palaces as those were the only building made of stone at the time that the city was burned. Ancient Ayutthaya has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Modern Ayutthaya has been re-established a few kilometres to the east of the original site and offers visitors access to lodging, food and shopping, as well as close proximity to the ancient city. Ayutthaya offers visitors a glimpse into the past with it countless archaeological wonders, headless Buddhas and crumbling but beautiful reliquary towers and wats that can only give an idea of the greatness of the original city.

The cheapest and most scenic way of reaching Ayutthaya is by train. It regularly departs from Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station and stops in Ayutthaya. The trip takes about 1h20min - 2.5 hrs depending on the type of service. Buses operate every 20 minutes or so from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit*) directly to Ayutthaya (despite what locals say, the last bus leaves at 18:00). Cruise boats run up the river from Bangkok, often stopping at Ko Kret and Bang Pa-In along the way. You'll need to book in advance as there are no scheduled services, just trips for tourists. It's a fairly lengthy trip (at least one whole day) and some of the larger boats offer (pricy) overnight tours. Travelling by boat to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is popular among foreigners since it does not only reveal the beauty as well as lifestyle of the people on both sides of the Chao Phraya River, but also reflects the life in history at the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom when the Chao Phraya River served as a channel of transportation in trading with foreign countries.