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AYUTTHAYA VS. SUKHOTHAI – A COMPARISON OF TWO ANCIENT RUINS IN THAILAND
February 16, 2014 by Bino 5 Comments
Ayutthaya or Sukhothai? I had the same question myself when I was planning my past trip to Thailand. These two ancient Thai cities, remnants of former capitals, are about 350 kilometers apart. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are said to be must-sees in Thailand especially if you like ancient Buddhist temple ruins. If you have time for only one, as I had during my earlier trip to Thailand, which one should you choose? Here are some comparative points to to help you decide.
Ayutthaya
Located some 80 kilometers from central Bangkok, the former Siamese capital city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is home to Ayutthaya Historical Park. But don’t be fooled by the designation, the park actually consists of dozens if not hundreds of ruins scattered all over, and in some cases, beyond an island enclosure. For a time during the 17th to 18th centuries, Ayutthaya was a major trading hub and was one of the largest cities in the world. This ended in 1767 when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya and almost destroyed the city.
the famous buddha’s head in wat mahathat
Today, many of the old buildings in Ayutthaya are still standing, albeit in ruins, and the greatest concentration of this is in the island enclosure. The mainland, which it is connected to via a bridge, also features some outstanding temples such as Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Yai Chai Mongkon.
Pros:
Some of the temples here, such as Wat Chaiwatthanaram, are some of the largest and grandest temples you can find between Ayutthaya and Sukhothai
The park is just an hour’s drive from Bangkok; far easier than Sukhothai transport-wise
The admission fees are on a per temple basis so if you venture into only a few, you get to save money
It is fairly easy to get between the temples and most guesthouses / hotels and even restaurants as the ruins sit almost side-by-side with modern buildings