Ayutthaya

Âyutthya - the ancient capital of Thailand

On the fourth day of time in Bangkok, I traveled to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya where the United Nations recognized the world cultural heritage. Thailand's capital, Ayutthaya, is located 72 kilometers north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and has direct access to the railways, making it easy for guests to reach Ayutthaya by road, water or rail.

•  Ayutthaya - kind of island

From the boat I can see Ayutthaya center located on an "island" surrounded by Chao Phraya, Lopuri and Pasak rivers. The island is approximately 3 km long and 3 km long. In the past there was a wall with a circumference of 12 km. Ayutthaya derives its name from an ancient city in India called Ayodhya - the birthplace of Prince Rama in the Ramayana epic. Ayutthaya was established in 1351 under King U Thong, later Ramathibodi I. The city grew rapidly thanks to its location on the trade route between India and China. In the middle of the 15th century, Ayutthaya expanded into Thailand as it is today. They invaded the Angkor capital of the Khmer. The capital of Ayutthaya at that time was more than 1 million residents. Compared with London's contemporary London capital, Ayutthaya is twice as large. In its heyday, Ayutthaya has diplomatic relations with more than 40 countries in the world. They trade with Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French ... Royal Ayutthaya has hired Japanese boxers (samurai) to protect. In the city of Ayutthaya at that time, countless temples with glittering golden towers were visible from afar. With 400 years of existence with 33 rulers, Ayutthaya is the golden age of Thai history.

•  The lost of Ayutthaya

All collapsed in 1765 when the Burmese army swept through the siege and attacked the city. Two years after the fall of Ayutthaya. Golden Buddha statues are melted to bring back to Myanmar. The temple was destroyed. All the people and the royal family were enslaved. All the books are burned. The culture created in more than 400 years has been completely ruined. King Taksin (who transcribed the Sino-Vietnamese word for Trinh Anh) was a man who had invaded the invasion and sought to restore the culture and architecture of Ayutthaya but only partially recovered because the Thai capital had moved to Bangkok. . Today, Ayutthaya has been recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site. So what is Ayutthaya still offering to visitors? According to her guide, Ayutthaya has ruins of the palace, the wall, and countless temples, can say it is next to the other. We only visited a typical temple for some time. That is the Yai Chai Mongkhon.

 

• Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Like China, in Thailand, I visit the pagoda to buy tickets, which is completely different from Vietnam. Ticket price is 20 baht. After entering, she instructed us to visit the lying Buddha statue. Statue is quite large, about 20-25 meters long, made of cement, painted white. The statue of Buddha in Thailand is wearing a shirt. The clothes of the Buddha are located outside this yellow as large as the statue. The temple grounds have a small electricity and an empty tower. The main hall divided into two parts. Outside the light incense lamp ... In addition to large Buddha statue there are many smaller Buddha statues. Both sides of the wall also have seven small Buddha images for seven days a week. When you give birth to a spoon of oil to water around the lamp in front of the Buddha easy to pray. The inside of the hall is a more majestic hall. Decorative wall with drawings of stories. The altar is home to a huge golden Buddha glittering above. Below, the two sides are the statues of the old monks abbot here. Near the altar is a statue of a small elephant about one inch high, about two inches long. She instructed that if we sincerely pray a wish with the Buddha that is approved, we just need to use a finger enough to lift this iron elephant statue. My husband tried. But surely her sincerity was not enough, or because she pleaded in Vietnamese, the Buddha in Thailand ... do not understand so she could not raise the elephant up and say it ... too heavy.

•  Donation in Pagodas in Thai way

The guide also showed us how to donate pagodas in Thai way. For 10 baht, we bought three incense sticks, a candle, a lotus flower and three thin leaves in front of the temple. Incense, lamp, cotton, bowing. Three thin gold leaves are used to stick to the Buddha statue. Where to bridge where to paste it. The golden leaf lying on a thin layer of paper just rub lightly on the Buddha statue as it will stick as paint.

• Tower behind Yai Chai Mongkhon

After offering the temple, we came out to visit the tower. The temple in Thailand has many towers. Bottom of the tower is round, the higher, the  narrower. The tower is called Chedi or Stupa. The tower at this temple is 71 meters high and tilted. This is the tallest tower in Ayutthaya built by King Naresuan in 1591 to commemorate the independence of the Burmese and named Victory Tower. In front of the tower there are two large Buddha statues. Around the yard along the wall are many Buddha statues. Each statue is about 1-2 meters high made of cement. She teaches that beneath these statues is the ashes of the donors. In front of the tower there are steps to climb up the middle of the tower. Although we are tired from the heat, but this time we fry to climb there to see what is inside the tower. In fact, it is also a place of worship. In the center of the tower is a pedestal made of large iron bars, below which is empty. Could it be used to cremate corpses in the old days?

Outside there is a narrow hallway so we can walk around the tower and admire the scenery below.

When we finished watching the tower, we were instructed to introduce four tourist university students who wanted to make us the target audience for them to practice with the tourists. "Yes, we are willing." I say.

Then a student started introducing the stupa. She said that this stupa is a place where anyone visiting Ayutthaya should visit ... To Ayutthaya that has not visited this temple is not enough ... When I finished listening,

I asked extra questions:

- Please tell me how tall tower?

This girl secretly. It turned out, she just memorized the narrative in English without deep study, so only a simple question can not answer.

I laughed and said:

- You should read more in the book.

We laughed together and took a photo together. I hope the student is not aware of the old visitor and asked again to make trouble.

 

• Black King Temple

After visiting the temple, we continued to go to the front of the temple to visit the shrine of King Den. The church is built in a new way. Inside a Thai Ayutthaya Ayutthaya King. What is the real name of a king, I do not remember just remembering her instructions to say that he has the nickname Black King-Black King. The statue he considered great is also beautiful. There are many orchids around. It is special that this king when he was very cock rock. So when people come here to worship the glass or chicken. Also around the electricity are countless fighting birds: big baby, different baby. There are several hundred such statues around the courtyard. This is also a special place to visit. See the pagoda for lunch and then visit Bang Pa In on the outskirts of Ayutthaya.

 

Bang Pa In - Summer Palace

The royal palace Bang Pa In is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the ancient capital city of Ayutthaya about 60 km north of Bangkok. The palace was built in 1632 under King Prasat Thong, but was left vacant until the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when it was slightly modified during the reign of Mongkut (Rama IV). . The present architecture was completed under King Chulalongkom (Rama V). At present, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) is still using this palace to entertain guests.

 

Lan buys tickets to enter the gate. Ticket price is 100 baht per person. There is also a distance from the palace, so there are electric trams in the golf courses for hiring tourists. We walked the devil though it was quite hot, about 90 degrees F. Visitors to the palace this afternoon is not very crowded, only about 50-70 people only. They are Eastern European, Korean, Japanese ...

 

After passing through the gate is a road with the mango tree grows so cool. This mango season has left, but not very much. Half of the area inside the palaces is lakes or canals. Right on the left is a lake. In the lake there are spray jets that look very fun. On the other side of the lake is the guest house where the generals or guests wait to meet with the king. The inside of the road is a bodhi tree. Below the tree is a small Khmer-style architecture. That is Ho Hem Monthian Thewarat Temple. Before the temple are statues of two lions. This temple was built in 1880 under King Chulalongkorn.

 

Bang Pa-in Palace

Now we have reached the top of a bridge across the lake. The bridge was built and decorated in the Western style. The two sides of the railing have set the statues are the gods in Greek mythology. King Chulalongkorn was the first Thai king to emigrate abroad, so he had the spirit of openness and applied Western architecture and fine art in his palaces. As in Bang Pa In, it looks like he wants to build it like the palace of Versailles, so the garden here is a bit like French. In the lake, there is a small architecture simulating Thailand's royal palace in Bangkok. That is Phra Thin Aisawan Thippa-At. This is a floating house on the lake, according to Thai architecture. Including King Chulalongkorn statue. This architecture is considered as the symbol of Bang Pa In.

 

After taking some beautiful pictures, we entered the first palace, Warophat Phiman. When visiting the Great Palace in Bangkok, we were just looking outside without knowing what's in the interior. In Bang Pa In we had the opportunity to enter several palaces to see the king's furniture and furniture. This house has two floors of Italian style built in 1876. This is the reception of King Rama V.

Today this is also the royal residence when they come here. Women must wear discreet clothes before visiting the palace. Inside the reception room is the throne of the king. Interior decoration such as furniture, bedside is kept carefully so it is as good and beautiful as new. On the wall there are hanging rudimentary weapons of the old Thai army like knives, cymbals, long guns ...

Leaving the Palace of Warophat Phiman we passed a small port on the side to enter. From here onwards is the Forbidden City, meaning only the royal family resides. There are also many lakes and bridges inside. The climate in Thailand is very hot so people build a palace in a park. There are many ornamental plants and lakes to make the scene look cool. The layout is cut in the shape of an elephant. The flowers are mostly flowers that are flowers ... paper flowers. This type needs less water but a beautiful purple or red.

 Wehart Chamrun: 

Now we are preparing to visit a large mansion type ... Ship. That is Wehart Chamrun: The Tianmen. This house was given to the king by Chinese merchants. It was made in China and then shipped and assembled here. Inside the palace is a Chinese-style throne. The interior decoration is beautiful and detailed with paintings such as Bat Tien Hai ... There is a small boat decorated with elephant ivory. We went upstairs and looked behind to see the king's bedroom. The room is as beautiful as the decoration of many furniture so it looks a bit cramped. King Chulalongkorn is very fond of this holiday in winter. We went back to see a lighthouse-like tower. This tower is called Ho Withun Thasana. The tower has three floors about 20 meters high. This is where the king climbs to see the countryside of the people around. Guests can also climb the tower if desired. This group of four people are all "old man" so everyone is lazy and not climb up the tower.

 

 

Western style flower garden in the palace

 

the gate of the palace

Far away we see small houses. Tour guides said it was the house of the queen and of the royal family. She also showed me a memorial tablet to Queen Sunanda. She is the wife of King Rama V.

• The death story of Queen Sunanda

The story of her death is also ... ungainly. In 1881, she and her daughter Princess Karnabhorn sailed to Bang Pa In. Along the way, the boat sank. Under Thai law at that time, anyone who touches the royal family will be killed. So many servants saw her call for help did not dare to help down. Even the soldiers who guarded her did not let anyone down. The queen and princess died of the law ... not like someone. King Chulalongkorn, when he was very angry and took office, did the right thing, and he set up a memorial to his wife and daughter in the royal palace of Bang Pa In.

• In the Bang Pain Summer Palace

On the way out, on the right hand side I can see a huge European-style architecture. That is Phra Thinang Uthayan Phumisathian palace. This architecture has two floors, built in 1877 but burned in 1938. The house has been rebuilt since 1996 but has yet to open to the public. We stop for refreshment in a waterfront restaurant. From here, look out the lyrical scene. Sit here and watch the scenery reflect and compare the work of museums and ancient Thailand against Vietnam.

See the palaces of Thailand to see their openness. These palaces are still being used by the king but still for public viewing. The interior architecture blends Europe, China, Thailand ... What is beautiful is that they are for construction. But the blend of contrasting architecture that also harmonizes many nuances. Inside the palaces, furnishings, curtains and pictures were well preserved for the public and future generations to know how royal life lived.

After visiting Bang Pain Summer Palace we come back to our hotel!!! On the way back to hote, we have seen the ghost house of Bangkok!!! 

According to the guide, that building is called  Sathorn Unique Tower . For me, it was such a normal building like many other in HaNoi. However the interesting thing is that it was abandoned since 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Sathorn Unique Tower is centrally located overlooking the Chao Phrayau RiverInvestors hoped that with the central location, the building would work well, but in the midst of the crisis, investors were constantly withdrawing capital so the building could not continue to be built.

I do not feel scaried with that building perhaps because of the rumors of the building on the grounds of the graveyard or ghosts wandering in the building every night make the building even more mysterious and scary.

( to be continued)

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