THE ANCIENT CITY OF AYUTTHAYA

In 1350 A.D. King U-thong founded his own Kingdom in Ayothaya (so called during such time). It was the right place for a capital city of a Kingdom strategically. It was surrounded by three rivers; now called Chao Phraya, Pasak and Lop Buri. During such time Sukhothai which used to be the most powerful and prosperous kingdom in the Golden Peninsula (composed of Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia) was on its decline. Meanwhile Ayothaya was getting stronger and stronger and finally could control many other kingdoms in such area including Sukhothai and the name Ayothaya was renamed “Ayutthaya”.

During the reign of King Naresuan the Great, the power of Ayutthaya Kingdom expanded to cover the whole Golden Peninsula (Thailand, part of Burma bordered by Thailand which forms the northwest part of the Golden Peninsula, the whole of Laos, Cambodia and the whole of Malaysia and Singapore). Such other kingdom had to prove their loyalty by offering annual presents to the king of Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya was in power for 417 years, from 1350 – 1767 A.D. During such a long period its culture and arts were substantial and profound, On 13 December 1991 the Ayutthaya Historical Park was praised and declared a Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It's a must for every foreign visitor who can afford at least one full day to see.