| Tips for a Temple Tour in Ayutthaya
Explore the ruins of Thailand's ancient capital
Ayutthaya was once the capital of Thailand, but after the Burmese invaded in 1767 it was reduced to ashes. What remained were the ruins of the many temples, Buddhist monasteries and palaces that this city was famous for. These were left to nature for a long time, but now they have been rediscovered by tourists and locals alike.
In this blog, we give tips for making a temple tour in Ayutthaya, including the 7 most beautiful temples and everything you need to know before your visit.
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About Ayutthaya
For more than 400 years Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, as Thailand used to be called. This made it one of the most important cities in Asia. Thanks to its strategic location, Ayutthaya was known as a trading centre that connected the East and the West. It was therefore a very developed city, full of art, beautiful temples, palaces and Buddhist monasteries.
This was until 1767, when the Burmese invaded and destroyed Ayutthaya. The local population was forced to flee and the Burmese moved the capital 70 kilometres south to Bangkok. What remained in Ayutthaya were the ruins of what once was.
For a long time, the local population did not pay any attention to them. They let the jungle overrun the old temples and palaces and a local family looted much of the art the Burmese had left behind. That is why you see so many beheaded Buddhist statues here today. It wasn’t until the 1990s that grants were given to safeguard the city’s cultural heritage and many of the temples were rediscovered and refurbished.
How to get there?
Ayutthaya is easy to reach from Bangkok. It is only a 1.5 hour drive from here. You can travel to Ayutthaya in different ways, by car, taxi, bus, train, but also with a unique cruise of two days and one night.
We ourselves arrived in Ayutthaya from Khao Yai National Park, which is located more to the east. We made this journey with a taxi ride of about 3 hours, but it is also possible to travel from here to Ayutthaya by train in about 2 hours. From the western city of Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya can be reached by train and car in about the same time.
For up-to-date travel information, such as connections and times, you should check the site of 12Go. You can also use the interactive tool below.
Discovering the temples
When taking a temple tour in Ayutthaya, keep in mind that the temples are located quite far apart and the distances are not manageable by foot. Therefore, it is advised to visit the temples by bicycle or with a TukTuk. Bicycles can often be hired from your accommodation or from one of the many rental centres in and around the old city. Expect to pay around 50 bath (€1.35) for a day.
A TukTuk ride is easiest to organise at Ayutthaya’s train station. Expect to pay around 500 bath (€13.50) for the day. You can also organise this in advance and go on a tour of the old city with an English-speaking guide, but it will be a bit more expensive. See this tour for example.
We ourselves visited the temples by TukTuk, accompanied by two real locals: Nana, the owner of the B&B where we stayed, and her niece. This was a fantastic experience, about which we have written more in this blog about Cattani’s Riverside Home.
Another great way to explore (part of) the temples is with a boat tour on the Chao Phraya River. We did this with a longtail boat, thanks to the organisation of Nana, via a tour that you will not find on any international website. In our B&B, there was only a sign with some Thai text on it. This was a real hidden gem!
However, there are organisations that offer river cruises here, which are easy to book via TripAdvisor and GetYourGuide. Keep in mind that most of them depart from Bangkok. This cruise will bring you in any case along Wat Chai Watthanaram, according to many the most beautiful temple complex of Ayutthaya.
During our river tour by longtail boat, we also visited the royal monastery Wat Phutthaisawan, which was not destroyed by the Burmese. This temple therefore gives a good idea of what the other temples once looked like.
7x the most beautiful temples of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya has a total of 41 temples. That’s too many to visit in a day or two. Which temples should you really not miss during a temple tour in Ayutthaya? We list the 7 most beautiful ones for you below.
Wat Chai Watthanaram
By many, this temple is seen as the most beautiful of Ayutthaya. This temple is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and is therefore good to visit with a boat trip on the river. Wat Chai Watthanaram dates back to 1630, when the king of that time gave the order to build a temple here that was modelled on the famous Ankor Wat temple in Cambodia.
This temple also strongly reminded us of the Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
At sunset, this temple is at its most beautiful. But also at night, the temple is beautifully lit.
Open: daily from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Entrance fee: 50 bath
Wat Phra Mahathat
This temple was secretly the reason for us to travel to Ayutthaya. Here you will find the iconic Buddha in the bodhi tree. It is a very beautiful and also culturally remarkable image, because Buddhists believe that every bodhi tree contains a part of the essence of Buddha. The tree is therefore sacred.
Wat Phra Mahathat is one of the oldest temples in Thailand. It was probably built around the year 1370, after which it served as a royal temple for a long time.
How the Buddha head ended up between the roots of the bodhi tree is unknown. Various legends circulate. One simply states that the Burmese left the head here after their plundering, after which the temple was abandoned for a long time. Another legend speaks of a thief who moved the head to the entrance, but was unable to lift it over the wall.
Open: daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance fee: 50 bath
Wat Phra Si Sanpet
The previous temple, Wat Phra Mahathat, is located next to the old royal palace of Ayutthaya. Little remains of this, however, as the Burmese burned it down completely. One part of the old complex that can still be seen is Wat Phra Si Sanpet, the old temple that was once part of the palace.
This was once the largest temple in Ayutthaya, where all the important ceremonies for the country were held. Characteristic of this temple are the three large Ceylon pagodas which contain the ashes of three successive Ayutthaya kings.
Open: Daily from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Entrance fee: 20 bath
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
After having seen several ruins, it is nice for a change to visit a temple that has been fully restored. Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit is an ‘active’ temple where you will find locals worshipping the big Buddha, the Phra Mongkhon Bophit, all day long.
This temple is at a short walking distance from Wat Phra Si Sanpet, so it is easy to combine both temples.
The 17-metre high Buddha statue was once made to stand outside. But a later king moved the statue and made sure that a temple was built around the Buddha. Although this temple too was destroyed several times, it has always been restored.
Open: weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Entrance fee: Free
Wat Lokayasutharam
Thailand’s most famous reclining Buddha may be in Bangkok, but Wat Lokayasutharam also contains an impressive specimen. With a length of 42 metres, this is the largest reclining Buddha statue in Ayutthaya and surroundings. Uniquely, it is located in the open air and is therefore always freely accessible to everyone. This is a good thing, because this Buddha is the great pride of the residents of Ayutthaya.
Open: always
Entrance fee: none
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
This Buddhist monastery is not only a popular tourist attraction, but also the residence of several monks. It contains the largest pagoda in the province. It was built in 1592 to celebrate the victory of the then King of Siam over his rival from Myanmar. When Ayutthaya later fell into Burmese hands, the temple was completely looted.
Since 1950, the monastery has been restored to its former glory, allowing the monks to return here. The many Buddha statues you find here are therefore relatively new and not decapitated, as you often see at the other ruins.
Open: Daily from 8.00 to 18.00
Entrance fee: 20 bath
Address: 40 Khlong Suan Phlu, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Wat Phutthaisawan
This Buddhist monastery was a surprise to us. We had not planned to visit it before our trip to Ayutthaya, but were taken here by the local guide who dropped us off with his longtail boat. You will find Wat Phutthaisawan directly on the Chao Phraya River, near the famous Wat Chai Watthanaram.
The order for the construction of the temple in the complex came from the first king of Ayutthaya, King U-thong, who also lived here for a time. What is remarkable about Wat Phutthaisawan is that it was not destroyed by the Burmese. It is therefore in good condition.
Upon arrival, the large white tower that is made in the Khmer style (similar to the style of Angkor Wat) immediately catches the eye. In front of the complex are three bronze statues of the ancient kings who were responsible for many victories on the ancient battlefields. The cocks standing around them symbolise their combativeness.
Open: Daily from 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Entrance fee: 20 bath
The best chicken soup we ever ate
Naturally, during your temple tour in Ayutthaya, you also have to eat. For this, we have the absolute best recommendation: Khun Pranorm Chicken Noodle! We were taken here by Nana, our B&B owner, who was kind enough to show us the best places in Ayutthaya. The chicken noodle soup we ate here is definitely in our top 1 of best soups ever! Truly unprecedented! When you see the place and settle yourself on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, you have no idea what deliciousness awaits. As far as we are concerned, this soup would not be out of place in a luxury restaurant with a Michelin star.
General information about the temples in Ayutthaya
∴ Specific opening times for the temples are given in the descriptions above. Most temples open at 8: 00 am and close somewhere between 4: 30 pm and 6: 00 pm.
∴ Entrance fees also vary from temple to temple, but are never higher than 50 bath (€1.35). Make sure you have cash on you. In most cases it is not possible to use an ATM (cash dispenser) in the area.
∴ Please note that opening hours may vary on religious holidays.
∴ When visiting the temples and Buddhist monasteries, it is important to abide by the religious customs. Dress appropriately and cover your knees and shoulders, especially as a woman. Note that it is impolite to sit with the bottom of your feet to a Buddhist statue. It is also disrespectful for a tourist, especially a woman, to address a monk. Although our experience shows that they often like to speak to you. It is fine if they initiate the conversation.
∴ Taking photographs of the Buddha statues is allowed, but be aware that it is impolite to stand over Buddha as an individual. Anyone wishing to photograph the Buddha head between the roots of the Bodhi tree should do so from a kneeling position. There are security guards to ensure that this is adhered to.
∴ Since most temples are not within walking distance, it is convenient to visit them by bicycle, scooter or TukTuk. Bicycles are often easily rented at the accommodations or the many rental shops in the old centre. You can also stop a TukTuk here, or else you can find them at the train station.
∴ Please note! There are still local tour operators who offer to cover the distance between the temples by elephant. Do not do this! The animals are not treated well or even mistreated. Elephants are known to have a very weak back, which is not designed to carry people.
Where to stay in Ayutthaya?
Actually, there is only one place we can recommend here: Cattani’s Riverside Home. Really a fantastic B&B, which unexpectedly made our stay in Ayutthaya a very special experience. This was by far the best accommodation we had in Thailand. This was due to the serene garden that owner Brian created with his own hands and the fantastic cooking of his wife Nana, who gave us a very warm welcome. It is a small-scale B&B, which makes a stay here a very personal experience.
Read more about this place in this blog that we wrote especially about Cattani’s.
Cheap flight tickets to Thailand
We still use Skyscanner in most cases to find the most favourable flight tickets to South-East Asia. But recently we also discovered Kiwi.com. We recommend to compare the offers of both search engines.
Hi, we are Samira & Maurits, a travel-hungry couple with a passion for photography.
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