Ayutthaya UNESCO Temples Small Group : Full Day Tour From Bangkok

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. A number of impressive buildings can be found in the palace complex, built in very different architectural styles, some in classical Thai, some Chinese and some European design.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon was founded in the second half of the 14th century during the reign of King U Thong, first ruler of Ayutthaya. Highlight of the monastery is its very large imposing prang dominating the area. century. During the Burmese invasion of 1767 the temple was largely destroyed.

Wat Mahathat, also known as the Monastery of the Great Relic, is believed to have been built around the 14th century and was once residence to the Supreme Patriarch leader of the Thai Buddhist monks. The most popular tourist attraction of Wat Mahathat is a tree whose roots have grown around the head of the Buddha statue.

This famous temple is situated on the south of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Its large bronze seated Buddha image or Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand with its measures of 9.5 meters across the lap and a height of 12.5 meters. During the fall of Ayutthaya, the building and the image were badly destroyed by fire. The present Vihara and Buddha image have been reconstructed and renovated in the reign of King Rama V.

Used mainly for ceremonies that served to authenticate the king’s spiritual and moral authority, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the official royal temple. No monks lived here and only people within the royal circle were allowed to enter. Destroying Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Royal Palace was a priority of the invading Burmese. They melted down 160 kilos of gold from the Phra Buddha Chai Sri Sanphet image and set fire to everything else. The distinctive pagodas of Wat Phra Si Sanphet are one of the most famous sights in Ayutthaya.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong during the later period of Ayutthaya. It was built to commemorate his mother's hometown and to celebrate his coronation. The main prang is surrounded by many lesser prangs and towers in eight directions. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was a royal monastery. The King and its descendants would perform religious rites here. It was also a cremation site for members of the Royal family. With its Khmer-style buildings, Wat Chaiwatthanaram is one of the most impressive ancient temples in Ayutthaya.