Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya: A great place to "Thai" one on

Three Wats in Ayutthaya, Thailand, the country's ancient capital
   (Courtesy: Tourist Authority of Thailand)

AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND – Once known as Siam, today it is called Thailand, a mysterious, exotic and colorful destination filled with floating markets, saffron robes and massive Buddha statues. Welcome to a land of wats, chedis, pagodas and stupas

To the people of Thailand, the ancient city of Ayutthaya has long been the spiritual heart of the nation. Here visitors discover the greatest treasures of the kingdom where they are able to connect with the past and better understand Thailand's heritage. Simply put, these are the "Thais that bind." 

Sitting Buddhas at Ayutthaya
(Courtesy:
 Tourist Authority of Thailand)

Located just over 50 miles from Bangkok, travelers can access Ayutthaya by train, car or taxi but another pleasant method is by boat along the Chao Phraya River.

Here riverboats glide silently along Thailand's interstate waterway with its impressinve picturesque temples dotting the shoreline.

Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was the second major capital of Siam (Sukhothai being the first). During its five centuries of dominance, Ayutthaya was regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world until it was ransacked by the Burmese in the 18th century.

Early center of Thai commerce
(Courtesy:
Tourist Authority of Thailand)

As a center of commerce, Ayutthaya attracted trade from Europe as well as Asia. Traders went in search of luxurious materials and Thai rice which, at the time, was recognized as the ultimate commodity of its type in a category all its own much like the standards set by Beluga caviar and Dom Perignon champagne today.

Thanks to its strategic geographical position, Ayutthaya flourished as and island surrounded by three rivers that linked it to the Gulf of Thailand. Accessibility from the outside world was critical to Ayutthaya's prosperity with the seafaring explorations of the Portuguese being the first traders to arrive in the 16th century.

UNESCO World Heritage Site --1991 Wat-Yai-Chai-Mongkhon 
(Courtesy: Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, Ayutthaya, with its close proximity to Bangkok, is an ideal place for a day trip.

Among the most popular, and best preserved, temples in Ayutthaya is Wat Yai Chai Mongkon. At just over 200 feet in height, it is possible to climb the steps to the base of the chedi to get stunning views of the city.

Reclining Buddha - Wat Yai
Chai Mongkon (Courtesy:
Tourist Authority of Thailand)

Here you will encounter row upon row of Buddha images done in the Sukothai style. Wat Yai Chai Mongkon gets its importance in Thai Buddhism because it was the monastery of the monks who journeyed to Ceylon to study.

Note that chedi and stupa, are used interchangeably to denote a mound-like structure used as a place of meditation containing relics that typically contain remains of Buddhist monks or nuns.

A Buddha's pose is important
(Courtesy: Tourist Authority of Thailand)

Though generally unfamiliar to visitors, especially from the West, Buddhas are typically posed in either a sitting or a reclining position. Look closely however, for it is the poses and gestures of the statues that give them their significance.

Each mudra or "pose" represents a particular event in the life of the Buddha with five specific depictions being among the most common.

Buddha's final hours
(Courtesy:
Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Often travelers will encounter a "reclining Buddha" which is another mudra representing Buddha during his last hours signifying his tranquility and detachment from worldly desires before passing to Nirvana. As with other Buddhas, a reclining Buddha, though more rare than its sitting counterpart, also featuresspecific gestures and poses that are meaningful.

A great example of a reclining Buddha in  Ayutthaya is Wat Lokayasutharam. This huge 137-foot stone image is unusual because its head perches on a lotus leaf rather than her hand or a pillow.

The word wat basically translates to "Buddhist or Hindu temple" in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. In this case, the Wat Lokayasutharam complex today is more of a ruin than a temple with the exception of the remaining Buddha. Even so, the sheer size of the Buddha is well worth a visit.

Wat-Chaiwatthanaram was the site of royal ceremonies
(Courtesy: Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Among the most famous temples at Ayutthaya is Wat Chaiwatthanaram where royal ceremonies were carried out by the kings.

King Naresuan the Great (1555 –1605), one of Thailand’s best loved monarchs, helped free Ayutthaya from the Burmese. Here he is depicted astride a horse with a base that highlights his accomplishments including an image where the king wrestles a crocodile.

Plenty of souvenirs
(Courtesy:
Tourist Authority of Thailand)

As visitors stroll through the alluring grounds of Ayutthaya, they often notice numerous roosters scattered throughout the park. Legend has it that Naresuan gambled his freedom with a Burmese prince on a cockfight during the time when he was held captive by his arch enemy. In tribute, visitors frequently leave model roosters at various temples throughout Ayutthaya as offerings of thanks.

Though badly damaged in 1767 after the fall of Ayutthaya, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet still represents the largest and most grand of the ancient city's temples. So legendary was its beauty that it became the model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

Wat Maha That is the most photographed Buddha at Ayutthaya
(Courtesy: Tourist Authority of Thailand)

Finally, there is little doubt that the most famous, and most photographed, Buddha image is Wat Maha That in which a carved Buddha head has become enshrined within the trunk of Bhodi tree as an  eternal tribute to its surroundings.

Living proof that a visit to Ayutthaya, Thailand is a place where "its 'bark' is worth its bite."