Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre

This centre is located on Rochana Road. It is a national research institute devoted to the study of Ayutthaya, especially during the period when Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand. The Centre is responsible for the Museum of the history of Ayutthaya, which exhibits reconstructions from Ayutthaya's past. The centre also supports an information service, and a library containing historical materials about Ayutthaya.

The Centre is open every day except Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

This is on Rochana Road, opposite the city wall. It houses various antique bronze Buddha images of famous carved panels and different kings of Buddhist altars. A receptacle at the Thai Pavilion contains relics of Lord Buddha and objects of art more than 500 years old. The museum also has a substantial collection of local artifacts.

The museum is open every day except Monday and Tuesday and National Holidays from 9:00 am - 4: 00 pm.

Wihan Phra Mangkhon Bophit

The principle Buddha image is one of Thailand's large bronze images. Many small Buddha images were also discovered. The Vihara was destroyed when the Burmese sacked Anytthaya in 1767 and was built in 1956 in its original style.

Ancient Palace

This was originally built by King U-Thong. During the region of King Barom Trailokkanat and later kings, several new buildings were added, including Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Notable buildings were Wihan Somdet Pavilion, Sanphet Prasat Pavilion, Suriyat Amearin Pavilion, Chakkravat Phaichayon Pavilion. Banyon Ratanat Pavilion and The Tri Muk Building. These pavilions were completely destroyed in 1767, leaving only brick foundations, porticoes and walls. The Tri Muk Building, a wooden structure with a brick foundation, was rebuilt in its original style at the command of King Chulalongkorn in 1907.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This is the most important temple within the Royal Palace compound and corresponds to The Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok's Grand Palace. In 1500, a 16-metres high standing Buddha was cast by King Ramthipodi II. The image was covered with gold weighing some 170 kilogrammes. In 1767, the Burmese set fire to the image to melt off the gold, completely destroying the image and the temple.

Nearby are three Ceylonese-style chedis built during the 15th century to enshrine the ashes of three Ayutthayan kings. Thee were renovated in 1956.

Wat Phra Maha That

This temple is on the corner of Chi Kun Road and Naresuan Road. It was built by King Ramesuan in 1384. The major construction was high pagoda, or prang which was destroyed by Burmese invaders. When the government undertook to restore all Ayutthaya ruins in 1956, the Fine Arts Department excavated the pagoda and found a buried treasure chest containing many valuables. Among objects discovered were a relic of Lord Buddha, placed inside a golden casket, several golden Buddha images in different sizes, and many other objects in gold, ruby and crystal. These are now housed in Bangkok's National Museum.

Chankasem Palace

This palace was built during the reign of King Maha Thammaraja, the 17th Ayutthayan monarch, for his son's residence (King Naresuan). Like other ruins, the palace was destroyed y the Burmese and left un repaired for a long time. King Mongkut of the present Chakri dynasty ordered reconstruction of this palace for use as a residence during his occasional visit to Ayuttaya.

It is now used as a national museum and opens every day, except Monday and Tuesday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Elephant Kraal

The Kraal, locally called "Phaniat", was used for the capture of wild elephants in ancient times. It is a spacious enclosure made of massive teak logs. Behind the Kraal is the pavilion housing the royal seat. The last capture of elephants in the Kraal occurred in May 1903, during King Chulalongkorn's reign, as a demonstration for royal guests.

Wat Phananchoeng

This monastery located south of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has no record as to its date of construction or the person causing its construction. It existed before Ayutthaya was founded as the capital . The principle image in the Wihan called "Phrachao Phananchoeng" was built in A.D. 1325; it is a golden Buddha of 19 metres high made of stucco in the attitude of Subding Evil; considered beautiful, it is most revered by the inhabitants of Ayutthaya.

Pang Pa-In Palace, Tel: (035) 261044 Bang Pa-In Palace is located in Tambon Ban Len, Amphoe, Amphoe Bang Pa-In, 18 kilometres south of Ayutthaya township. It lies 58 kilometres north of Bangkok by rail, 61 kilometres by road. To access to Bang Pa-In from Ayutthaya on can go by Phahonyothin road and make a right turn at Km 35 for another distance of 7 kilometres to the Bang Pa-In Palace. The palace is open to the public every day from 8:30 - 16:00 hrs. Admission fee is 50 baht per person.

Originally, there was a riverine island. When Prasat Thong became the Ayutthayan king (1630 - 1655), he had the Chumphon Nikayaram Temple built on his family estate. Later he had a palace built on a lake in the middle of the island where he could periodically reside.

The palace, surrounded by a lake 400 meters wide, and the Chumphon Nikayaram Temple, are all that remain of King Prasat Thong's construction work at Bang-pa In.

Bang Pa-In was used as a country residence by every Ayuttayan monarch after King preasat Thong, But when the new capital was established in Bangkok, Bang Pa-In ceased to be used and was left unoccupied for 80 years. It was only during King mongkut's reign (1851 - 1868) that Bang Pa - In was again visited by kings. King Mongkut stayed there and had a house built in the old palace's compound.

His son, King Chulalongkorn (1868 - 1910) liked the place, stayed there every year and constructed the royal palace as it is now seen today. The palace contains five important buildings as follows:
1. Phra Thinang Aisawan Thippa- at. Thai design castle pavilion stands in the middle of the lake, replacing a former building of the same name erected by King Prasat Thong.
2. Phra Thinang Warophat Phiman to the north of "Saphan Sadet" (the royal path to the river landing)/ occupies the original site of the Pavilion built during King Mongkut's reign. It wad two storeyed. One used as the King;s apartments, the other as a reception hall. When the court was transferred to another building, the decaying pavilion was demolished and replaced by the new European design building which now serves as a hall for state ceremonies.
3. Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisathian was almost totally destroyed by fire in 1938. Formerly used as a high water season residence, only a few bricks remain.
4. Phra Thinang Wehat Chamrun is a Chinese-style building where the court generally resided during the rainy and cool seasons.
5. Phra Thinang Withun Thatsana is an observatory standing on a small island between Phra Thinang Uthayan and Phra Thinang Wehat Chamrun from which a commanding view of surrounding countryside can be enjoyed.

Other interesting buildings include:

The King Prasat Thong Shrine erected during King Chulalongkorn's reign stands on the edge of the lake. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat a remarkable building constructed during King Chualongkorn's time on the outer island, south of the royal palace. The temple was built in Gothic style, resembling a Christian church. Tourists may cross the Chao Phraya river from Bang Pa-In to visit this temple. Wat Chumphon Nikayaram is by the bridge on the way from the railway station. It was built by King Prasat Thong and subsequently restored. The two Phra Chedis (relic shrines) in this temple are considered to be very beautiful.

Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre at Bang Sai
Tel: (035) 366092 or Tel: 2258165-8 (Bangkok) With an area of 285 rai (or 14 acres), the Centre is located I Tambon Bung Yai. Amphoe Bang Sai. Farmers from Ayutthaya as well as from other provinces undergo training in folk arts and crafts here. At this centre, you will have a glimpse of how farmers in the four regions live and work, how their products of arts and crafts are produced. The centre is under the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT) which was established under Royal Patronage on the 21st July 1976. Products and activities which can be send here are such as Fern Vine basketry , weaving basketry, artificial flowers, hand-woven silk and cotton silk dyeing, wood carving, miniature hand-modelled Thai dolls, Furniture making, cloth-made products, etc. All the products are sold at the Centre and in every branch of Chitralada Stores.

In order to get a Bang Sai, one can take a boat along the Chao Phraya River or take Bang Sai-Sam Khok road which branches off about 24 kilometres from Bang Pa-In Intersection or take bus from the Northern Bus terminal on Phaholyothin Road.