Attractions information

Wat Mahathat Ayutthaya

Wat Mahathat was built in the early days of Ayutthaya in the late 14th century by King Borommaracha I.

The story goes that the king had a revelation, and relics of the Buddha then suddenly appeared. The temple was built to house the relics.

Wat Mahathat Ayutthaya was built in the early period in 1374. The main stupa is Pang shape made of laterite but in the later periods was resored with brick.

The construction of Wat Mahathat was begun during the reign of King Borommarachathirat I in 1374 A.D. but was completed during the reign of King Ramesuan (1388-1395 A.D.) When King Songtham (1610-1628 A.D.) was in power the main prang (Khmerstyle tower) collapsed. The restoration work on the prang was probably completed in the reign of King Prasatthong (1630-1655 A.D.) During the restoration the height of the prang was considerably increased.

Wat Mahathat was restored once again during the reign of King Borommakot (1732-1758 A.D.) when four porticos of the main prang were added. In 1767 A.D. when Ayutthaya was sacked the wat was burnt and has since then been in ruins.

It is most famous for the Buddha head trapped in the Bodhi Tree.

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Ayutthaya Sacred City

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya "The Sacred City of Ayutthaya" was founded in 1351 and reached its apex in the 16th century. It is an island embraced by three rivers, the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak.

In the Golden Age which lasted 417 years, Ayutthaya was the historic capital of Thailand.
The territory of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya extended far beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. During the 17th century, foreign visitors, traders and diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. That ended forever in 1767 when it was conquered by the Burmese and completely destroyed.

Nowadays, visitors to Ayutthaya, which is only 86 kilometers north of Bangkok, can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history.

The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer, or ancient Cambodian style, and early Sukhothai style.

Most importantly, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Aranyik Sword Village

Aranyik is a small village in the province of Ayutthaya, where for centuries blacksmiths have been crafting steel swords which have been used in combat and historical battles.

Nowadays the fabrication is focused mainly on sword replicas and also on innovative cutlery designs and table decorations.

Handicraft villages are abundant across the Ayutthaya province. Local communities produce a number of souvenir items ranging from stone carvings, wooden masks, ceramic goods, musical instruments and even Thai-style houses.

Perhaps the most impressive handicraft of them all comes from the Aranyik village which makes high quality swords, daggers, kitchenware, and gardening tools.

Their craftsmanship extends back to the Ayutthaya period, in which weaponry was needed for ceaseless wars with the Burmese, Angkor and the Lanna kingdoms. The Aranyik village originated from Lao residents, who lived along the banks of the Pasak River, off the island on the northeastern side.

Although the craftsmen's origins are traceable back to Laotian ancestors from Vientiane, their skill and methods to work the sword materials incorporate several Japanese techniques. These early migrants became prized craftsmen and this tradition has carried on today.