"Ayutthaya October 2002" a Ayuthaya Travel Page by suraphona

<CENTER><FONT face="verdana" SIZE="2" COLOR="#663399"><B>At its height of glory</B>,<BR> Ayutthaya was one of Asia's most prosperous cities with a proliferation of magnificent temples, palaces and pavilions signifying its wealth and prosperity.</FONT></CENTER>

<CENTER><FONT face="verdana" SIZE="2" COLOR="#663399">This impressive heritage has become the bedrock of Thai society <BR>and has shaped the Thai way of life as it exists today.<BR> With a culture and civilization so outstanding and timeless,<BR><BR> <B>UNESCO declared the Ayutthaya Historical Park, <BR>a cultural World Heritage Site on 13 December 1991. </B></FONT>
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Formally known as <B>Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya</B>, the ancient city of Ayutthaya, <BR>was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong <BR>and has remained the capital city of the Kingdom of Siam for 417 years, (from 1350 to 1767.)<P>
<CENTER>In fact, Ayutthaya was a thriving town before it was founded as the Thai capital by King Uthong. Before the arrival of the invading Thais, the area was occupied by the Khmers or Cambodians who ruled Lavo or Lopburi. The city was situated on an island which was the confluence of three rivers, the Chao Phraya, the Pa sak and the Lopburi. Thus, it was the centre of trade and communications. </CENTER>
During this time, 33 Kings of various Siamese dynasties have reigned in Ayutthaya, <BR>each contributing to the Kingdom's many cultural treasures.<BR> Over time, this magnificent legacy, passed on from generation to generation, <BR>has become a unique and most distinctive aspect of <b>Ayutthaya<B>.
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