Day trip to Ayutthaya - Wat Mahathat & Ayutthaya night market

Ayutthaya - My final UNESCO site of the day was the famous Wat Mahathat, best known for the iconic Buddha head entwined in the roots of a banyan tree. This temple, once a royal monastery, was a spiritual hub during Ayutthaya's reign.

Wat Phra Mahathat, Thailand, was a royal Temple of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It is one of the oldest and most significant temples in the history of Ayutthaya as it housed the Buddha's holy relic. Many important royal ceremonies of the Ayutthaya era had been hosted here. When the Ayutthaya Kingdom failed in 1767, Wat Phra Mahathat was severely damaged by fire and was since abandoned. 

It was a huge temple compound, lots of walking and time for a good dinner.   Just across the road, food sellers are getting ready for the Night market.   

Getting crowded

Thai wan ton mee

By 6:10 PM, it was time to leave Ayutthaya and head back to Bangkok. The tour bus dropped us off at ICS, opposite ICONSIAM Mall, where the sparkling lights of Bangkok welcomed us back. 

Day trip to Ayutthaya - Wat Chai Watthanaram

 Ayutthaya - Wat Chaiwatthanaram was founded by King Prasart Thong in 1630 as a tribute to his late mother, so he chose to build it on the site of her residence. During his reign, it would've been one of the city's most important temples.  One of the temples in Ayutthaya city that is a UNESCO Heritage site.

The symmetrical layout of the temple, with its towering prang (spire) surrounded by smaller chedis, made it a photographer's paradise.  The temple symbolised Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.

Walking through the ruins, I felt transported back in time, imagining the temple in its full glory during Ayutthaya's golden age.

Day trip to Ayutthaya - Wat Yai Chai Mongkon

Ayuttaya - the 2nd stop after my lunch, was Wat Yai Chai Mongkon.   The temple is famous for its large pagoda, which was built to commemorate King Naresuan the Great's victory over the Burmese King in an elephant duel. This victory was a turning point in Thai history, granting Siam its independence from Burma.

Our first UNESCO World Heritage site of the day was the iconic Wat Yai Chaimongkol. This temple, known for its towering chedi (stupa), is a symbol of Ayutthaya's spiritual and architectural grandeur.

Houses where the monks lived

Sleeping Buddha

White sleeping buddha

Day trip to Ayutthaya - Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

Ayuttaya - Today was a day I had eagerly anticipated — a visit to Ayutthaya, the historic city in Thailand brimming with cultural and architectural wonders. Known for its UNESCO World Heritage sites and timeless charm, Ayutthaya promised a glimpse into Thailand's glorious past. My tour, booked conveniently through Klook, included a visit to the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and three UNESCO-listed temples. 

Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. In the mid-18th century, the Burmese Konbaung dynasty invaded Ayutthaya in 1759–1760 and 1765–1767. In April 1767, after a 14-month siege, the city of Ayutthaya fell to besieging Burmese forces and was completely destroyed, thereby ending the 417-year-old Ayutthaya Kingdom. 

First Stop: Bang Pa-In Palace (commonly called Summer Palace)

A serene and picturesque retreat once used by the Thai monarchy. This stunning palace complex is a blend of Thai, Chinese, and European architectural styles, set amidst well-manicured gardens, tranquil lakes, and ornate pavilions.

Beautiful gardens

Ho Hem Monthian Thewarat

Ho Hem Monthian is a small stone structure in the form of a Khemer style prasat (residence of king or god with a corncob shaped super structure) built by King Chulalongkorn in 1880 and dedicated to King Prasat Thong of Ayutthays.

Aisawan-Dhipaya-Asana Pavilion

The highlight for me was the iconic Aisawan Thiphya-Art Pavilion, a beautiful Thai-style pavilion situated in the middle of a lake. The bright golden structure reflected beautifully on the water, creating a postcard-perfect moment.

European sculptures on the bridge

Uthayan Phumisathian Residential Hall

Wehart Chamrunt, or Heavenly Light

I also admired the Phra Thinang Wehart Chamrun, a Chinese-style palace with intricate carvings and vibrant colors. Wandering through the serene grounds, I could see why this place was a favored retreat for Thai royalty.

Ho Withun Thasana

The Ho Withun Tasana or “Sages Lookout” was built by King Rama V in 1881. It somewhat resembles a lighthouse painted in several red and yellow colours and was used to observe the surrounding area.

Memorial to Princess Saovabhark

In the year 1887, the Princess Saovabhark Nariratana, a consort of King Chulalongkorn and three of his children died, so the King had a marble cenotaph bearing their portraits built for them near the earlier memorial to Queen Sunandakumariratana.

Memorial to Queen Sunandakumariratana

In 1881 Queen Sunandakumariratana drowned when her boat sank in the Chao Praya River while she was on the way to Bang Pa-In Palace.  King Chulalongkorn overcome with grief, set up a marble obelisk as a cenotaph to her memory.  The King composed the dedication himself in Thai and English.

Phra Thinang (Royal Residence)

Phra Thinang Warophat Phiman is a Neo-Classic style, one storey mansion built by King Chulalongkorn in 1876 as his residence and throne hall.   The private apartments of this building, which are located in the inner palace section, are still used by the their Majesties whenever they reside at the Palace.

Seafood @ Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya - After our meeting in Ayutthaya we drove a short distance to a riverside restaurant.    A popular seafood restaurant around here.

As I walk through the restaurant, they were busy preparing Thai Giant King prawns over the grill.  They are huge and these were the ones that we ordered.

King prawn grilled over the fire

Fried chicken with salad dish

spicy crab salad

Grilled river fish

My huge river king prawns

This river king prawns is expensive @ 600baht each (about SGD 26) and weights 350g each.    But it is so fresh and really yummy, the yellow 'brain' taste like melted cheese.

Price list for the famous King prawns

1st line item reads - 250g King prawns price 375Baht, so we ordered the 3rd line down @ 350g.  The have Giant prawns weighing 700grams.