Ayutthaya:The Land of Thai History

Pra nha khon sri Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, was a capital city of Thailand for 417 years . We can call Ayutthaya in the past “ Golden Age “ of siam .

Ayutthaya was ruled by 33 kings of 5 different dynasties.The area of city was the island and surrounded by Maenam Chao Phraya, Maenam Pa Sak and Maenam Lopburi. Many architecture in Ayutthaya was a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style.

During the 17th century, most of country came to Ayutthaya for trade or make relationship. Ayutthaya reached peak in the middle of the 18th century. Ayutthaya has many war with neighbor country such as Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar .

The big war in Ayutthaya is war with Burmese . Burmese sacked the city, setting fire to the temples, carting off the gold and leveling important buildings such as the kings palace.

All of the times 417 years that Ayutthaya was a capital of Thailand , was the flourish time of Thai people .Many thing in this period developed and grew up so fast such as Art and culture,architecture and trading ,etc.

Moreover, it was a time that Thai ancestor made a history and establish a important place for next generation . It was a cultural heritage for the Thai next generation. Although ,the destruction of Krung Sri Ayutthaya during the war with Burmese army damaged many thing, but nowadays we can see the trace evidence and ruin about history .

The people known Ayutthaya is the land of world heritage. First province that I think of is Ayutthaya.Ayutthaya is one of Thailand's historical and majestic highlights with everyone .Moreover,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991.

Ayutthaya is out of Bangkok just 80 kilometers., only 1 hour and least more in traveling you will arrive at this province. We has many way to go Ayutthaya, such as car, bus , train and boat .Today ,traveling by boat is popular with foreigner and Thai people.
Most of the tourist attraction in Ayutthaya is the temple,the palace,an ancient remains ,an antique and a relic of history.

We will start to touch this history land with "Wat Na Phra Mane". Wat Na Phra Maru Ra Chi Ka Ram or Wat Na Phra Mane was built in the early period of Ayutthaya [2046 B.E.]. Wat Na Phra Mane was one temple that wasn’t damaged by Burmese during the war because this temple used for the bivouac and corps of Burmese army.In this reason , Wat Na Phra Mane is only temple that has a perfect architecture of Ayutthaya more than another temple in this province .About building in this temple is a lot.Let's start with focus point ,Ubosot. The Ubosot was built in 1503, and then reconstructed in the first half of the 17th century by King Prasat Thong, in a style that is typical of the Ayutthaya style. The octagonal columns are topped with lotus cups.The windows are high narrow slits to let the air flow through.Inside Ubosot,the columns are painted a very dark red with gold decorations.

The coffered ceiling is also intricately decorated in red and gold. On the dais at one end of the ubosot is a crowned Buddha image with a rather sour face, which is typical of the late Ayutthaya style. Image of Buddha in a temple is name “Phra Bhud Tha Ni Mid Wi Chit Marn Mo Lee Sri Sran Pech Bo Rom Ma Tri Lok Ka Nat”,It's too long!! .

Next to the ubosot is a very small wiharn housing ,called “Wiharn Noi” because there has a small side.In wiharn has The dark green main Buddha image ,called “Phra Khan Thararat”. The Image of Buddha was built in typical of Davaravadi architecture from Bluish Limestone.This Image of Buddha was built more than 1,000 years. The image is quite old, probably from the 7th or 8th century, and is depicted in a seated position, wiht the feet resting on a lotus (lily) pad.This is one of five that had in Thailand.

Next Temple that I visited is “Wat Damikaraj or Wat Thammikarat”.Before using the name” Wat Thammikarat, the temple was originally known as Wat Mukkharat, and the name was later changed to honour of the founder.From ascription about building, this temple was built before establishment Krung Sri Ayuthaya in style of Uthong Arts. Wat Thammikarat was established by Phraya Thammikarat, the son of King Sainam Phung before the Ayutthaya Period.

Inside the temple you will find a chapel that previously contained an enormous Buddha image , which was made from bronze. Moreover, the focus point of Wat Thammikarat is a roofless viharn with ten brick pillars. So the difference thing of this temple is Singha Pagoda or Thai called is "Phra Ja Dee Singha".

This temple has a restoration from the king all the time because this temple was built on the east of capital.From Thai definition believe that was the auspicious direction.If the wall of Ubosot doesn’t colllapws it will very beautiful because the wall of Ubosot was written by a best craftman in that period.Moreover, Wat Thammikaraj in the past has the image of the Buddha ‘s Head which made from bronze .Most of Thai people believe in holiness of this image of the Buddha.If some people had a lawsuit and go to swear in front of this image of the Buddha ,the culprit will die.Nowaday,This image of the Buddha was kept at Chao Sam PhraYa musueum. This temple is a temple that I believe if everything wasn’t destroyed during the war there will be beautiful more than. However, there are many important thing inside Wat Thammikarat made me impress with this temple.

When i saw the picture about Ayutthaya everytimes I felt miss my home because this history land is my home town .This time isn't first time that I visited Wat Na Phra Mane and Wat Thammikaraj But it is first time that i tell about my impression and my feeling about this province with another people by writing.