Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya (complete name: Phra Nakhon If Thai Ayutthaya , พระนครศรีอยุธยา; also written “Ayudhya”) is the capital of the province of Ayutthaya in Thailand. The city was founded in 1350 by the king U-Thong and became the capital of its kingdom, generally known under the name of Royaume of Ayutthaya.

Plundered by the armies Burmese S of the king Bayinnaung in 1569, the city was destroyed by those of the king Hsinbyushin in 1767. Its ruins were made up in historical Parc of Ayutthaya. The new city was rebuilt a few kilometers further towards the east.

The city is located on the river Chao Phraya, the old city being on a peninsula formed by a meander of the river, which was recut by a channel to make an island of it.

Etymology

The name of Ayutthaya comes from that of the city of the Ayodhya, in India. This city is indeed that of Rāma, hero of the Rāmāyana. This name means “which cannot be conquered” in Sanskrit.

Old temples of the XV and XVIè centuries

The historical part of Ayutthaya is partly made up of the ruins of its old temple (or wats). These ruins represent about fifteen site, of which a Buddha lying. While at the time of their construction the temples and sculptures were entirely covered with white plaster, this one was degraded with the wire of time and recovers nothing any more but one negligible proportion of constructions. The stone of construction, of red color, is today with naked.

The Wat Na Phramen is the only temple of time still in state and credit nowadays.

External bonds

Wikitravel: Ayutthaya

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