"The historical capital of Thailand" a Ayuthaya Travel Page by dabuwan

Ayuthaya, 80 kms north of Bangkok, has been the prosperous capital of Thailand for about four centuries, from 1350 to 1767, during the "golden age" of the siamese kingdom.
Because of the burmese invasions and sacks most of the Ayuthaya monuments, though partially restored, are in ruinous condition. Nevertheless their grandeur and magic beauty can still be appreciated and Ayuthaya is one of the most interesting and fascinating destinations in Thailand.
The many monuments are scattered on a vast area, but the most important of them are located in the so called "Ayuythaya Historical Park", an island encircled by the Chao Praya river, that can be easily reached on foot from modern Ayuthaya and visited on a daytrip.
There are almost no guards around, so it is of vital importance that all visitors behave correctly, avoiding to climb the monuments or to further damage them. Ayuthaya has been declared a UNESCO world heritage in 1991.