Wat Phra Mahathat - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand

    Located in front of the Grand Palace to the east near Pa Than Bridge, it was constructed in the reign of King Borom Rachathirat I. It houses the holy relics of Lord Buddha. Wat Mahathat is open everyday from 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Admission fee is 50 baht.

    An another interesting thing in this temple is Sandstone Buddha head which is covered by roots of tree, it was supposed that this sandstone Buddha head was dropped down to the roots of tree in the end of Ayutthaya period and the roots have covered it for long time until now so that becomes an amazing thing at this place.

    The carriages in front of Wat Mahathat are newly found when we have recently visited this temple. They are parked at Wat Mahathat for visitors who are interested in touring around the city by traditional way like by a carriage around town.

    Ayutthaya Historical Park provides the audio tour in English described for Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Chai Watthanaram, and Wat Mahathat. Available at Ayutthaya Historical Park ticketing counter. The fee is 150 baht.

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Klong Sa Bua Floating Market is a new market located in the city of Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya Province of Thailand. Market near the Temple figured the name Wat Chong Klom A measure that has since past. ...Read More	Wat Phra Mahathat Located in front of the Grand Palace to the east near Pa Than Bridge, it was constructed in the reign of King Borom Rachathirat I. ...Read More
In 1491, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was located inside the compound of the Grand Palace-the foundations of which are still visible-and served as the royal chapel, ...Read More	Wat Lokkayasutha This monastery is over a kilometer behind Wat Suanluangsopsawan adjacent to Wat Worachettharam. Accessible by the road inside the compound of the Distillery Plant, ...Read More
Wat Yai Chaimongkon This monastery constructed in the reign of King U-Thong is located outside the city to the southeast in the same direction as the railway station ; ...Read More	Wat Phananchoeng This monastery located south of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has no record as to its date of construction or the person causing its construction. ...Read More
Wat Chaiwatthanaram Located on the bank of the Maenam Chao Phraya, to the west of the city island is Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honor his mother, ...Read More

Options in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand
     As it is located less than 100 km from Bangkok, along the banks of the Chao Phraya River and along the northern rail line, Ayutthaya can be reached via car, bus, boat, or train. Once there, visitors can explore the city with standard forms of local transportation, including songtaews, motorbike taxis, and tuk tuks, ride bicycles, or even explore the world heritage attractions atop elephants!

    Getting to and from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

    By Train:
    Trains to Ayutthaya leave Bangkok's Hua Lumphong Station approximately every hour between 4.20 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. Train schedules are available from the information booth at Hua Lumphong Station. Alternatively, call 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020, or 1690 or visit www.railway.co.th for reservations.

    By Car:
    There are a variety of routes to drive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.

    1: Take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road.) and then Highway No. 32.

    2: Take Highway No. 304 (Chaeng Watthana Road.) or Highway No. 302 (Ngamwongwan Road.); turn right onto Highway No. 306 (Tiwanon Road.), then take Highway No. 3111 (Pathum Thani - Samkhok - Sena) and turn right at Amphoe Sena to Highway No. 3263.

    3: Take Highway No. 306 (Bangkok - Nonthaburi - Pathum Thani Road.) and then take Highway No. 347

    By Bus:
    Ordinary busses depart from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) for Ayutthaya's main terminal on Naresuan Road every 20 minutes between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. The fare is 30 baht and the trip takes around 2 hours. Air-conditioned busses operate the same route every 20 minutes from 5.40 a.m. to 7.20 p.m. (departing every 15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.) at around 50 baht; the trip takes 1.5 hours when traffic north of Bangkok is light, otherwise it takes two hours.

    By Other:

    By Boat:
    Traveling by boat to Ayutthaya is popular among foreigners since it both reveals the lifestyle of the people living along the Chao Phraya River and reflects the life in history at the time of Ayutthaya Kingdom when the Chao Phraya River served as the primary means for trading with foreign countries.

    Cruise to Ayutthaya

    There are no scheduled or chartered boat services between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. However, several companies in Bangkok operate luxury cruises to Bang Pa-In with side trips by bus to Ayutthaya for approximately 1,500 baht to 1,800 baht per person, including a sumptuous luncheon. Longer two day trips in converted rice barges start at 4,800 baht. The luxurious cruises are operated by:

    1. Chao Phraya Princess Tel: 0 2860 3700
    2. Horizon Cruise Tel: 0 2236 7777
    3. River Sun Cruise Tel: 0 2266 9316
    4. Manohra Tel: 0 2476 0021-2
    5. Grand Pearl Tel: 0 2862 0255-60
    6. Ayutthaya Boat&Travel Tel: 0 2746 1414, 08 1456 9862, 08 9456 3700, 08 1733 5687

    Getting Around Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

    Songtaew and tuk-tuk will go anywhere around Ayutthaya for 10 to 30 baht/person depending on the distance, destination. A tuk-tuk from the train station to any point in the old Ayutthaya zone is approximately 30 baht. Note that the trip on the island (old Ayutthaya city) itself costs 20 baht/trip maximum.

    To tour the ruins, the most economical and ecological option is to rent a bicycle from one of the guesthouses (40 to 50 baht/day). Walking is also an option, but not recommended during the hot or rainy seasons.

    It is possible to charter a samlor, tuk tuk or songtaew by the hour or by the day to explore the ruins but the prices are relatively high by Thai standards (150 baht/hour, or 500 baht for the entire day).

    Another interesting way to explore the area is to charter a boat from Tha Chan Kasem (Chan Kasem Pier, next to Hua Ro Market) for a semicircular tour of the island that allows visitors to see some of the less accessible ruins. A long tailed boat with a capacity of up to 8 people can be hired for 400 baht for a 2 to 3 hour trip with stopovers at Wat Phutthaisawan, Wat Phanan Choeng and Wat Chai Wattnaram.

    Minibus services operating from the railway station into the city are also available. Hiring a minibus within Ayutthaya costs 250 - 300 baht/day. If you wish to travel between Ayutthaya and Bang Pa - In, minibuses regularly leave Chao Prom Market (on Chao Prom Road). Daily schedules start from 6.30 a.m. with a fare of 30 baht. The trip takes approximately 50 minutes.