Ayutthaya in a Day

On one of my visits to Thailand, I had an opportunity to visit the old kingdom of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 85 kilometers north of the capital Bangkok. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River, Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It was destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767 who burned the city to the ground.

The trip to the ancient kingdom was an abrupt detour from my common Bangkok itinerary, there wasn’t even a plan of going there. The idea of visiting the of nearby beach of Pattaya or spending the holidays to Phuket or Ko Phi Phi crossed my mind. But with only a day to spare and a limited budget, Ayutthaya came into the scene.

The minivan from Victory Monument to Ayutthaya left before eight o’clock in the morning. For only 60 Baht, the minivan, filled with locals but me, traversed the wide expressway to north. In an hour I was already at Ayutthaya Park Mall.

Victory Monument of Bangkok
Victory Monument of Bangkok

It was a few minutes before mall’s opening time. Standing at the entrance, I looked around but I didn’t find a hint of an ancient city. I am quite sure that I was in the Ayutthaya that I knew of. The ruins and old temples were just out there.

The mall opened at exactly nine in the morning so I went inside and had a quick breakfast in a fast-food store. Afterwards, I went around to ask for directions. I thought of going to the train station first but I had no idea how. I approached some mall goers, tenants and even the guards but I was lost in their language and I am sure they were lost with mine too. I had a hard time finding someone who understands English.

Ayutthaya Train Station
Ayutthaya Train Station

After some unsuccessful inquiries inside, I walked out and wandered around unsure of where to go. But I retreated and went back to the mall when I realized I was going nowhere. Luckily, after wasting an hour, I got a clear response from a bystander outside the mall who told me to ride a “Song Taew” to the train station. The “Song Taew” is a pick-up truck with two rows of seat fronting one another on the back. It is the common mode of transport for public commuters in Thailand, like the jeepney in the Philippines.

The ride from Ayutthaya Park Mall to the train station took no more than twenty minutes and cost me 10 Baht. There were few “Tuktuk” parked outside the train station and I approached one who charged me 200 Baht per hour to go around the ancient kingdom. He showed me the rate matrix and the map of Ayutthaya, and then narrated on how the tour will go. I tried to haggle but the language difference rendered the negotiation futile. So I hopped inside his “Tuktuk” and off we went.

Ayutthaya
The reclining Buddha of Wat  Lokaya Sutha
Ayutthaya
The Buddha Head in Wat Mahathat

Under the blue skies and the scorching heat of the sun, we wandered for four hours in the ancient city. My eyes were wide with amazement as I saw magnificent old structures that is Ayutthaya. We visited Wat  Lokaya Sutha, Wat Yai Chaya Mongkol (20 Baht entrance), Wat Mahathat (50 Baht entrance), The Ancient Royal Palace (50 Baht entrance), Wat Chaiwathanaram (50 Baht entrance), Wat Panan Choeng (20 Baht entrance) and the famous reclining Buddha at Wat Phuttaisawan. My guide actually advised me not to pay for the entrance fees on some sites since I looked like a Thai so I got to save on some 😛

Ayutthaya
Wat Yai Chaimongkol

After four hours, I was already sweating furiously but my guide came to the rescue. He handed me a towel and a bottle of mineral water for free, perhaps he pitied me when he noticed that I didn’t even have a hanky and water at hand when I already looked very tired and wasted.

I asked my guide to pass by the train station again before going to the van terminal so I can take some photos. I also considered riding the cheaper train from Ayutthaya to Bangkok but the next train would arrive in two hours so my guide brought me to the terminal where I hopped on a van going back Bangkok. The rush hour traffic of Bangkok welcomed us and the travel took almost two hours. It was almost dark when I reached my hotel in Silom.

Ayutthaya
Wat Chai Wattanaram

Alone in a place where only few can understand me, I braved the language barrier to have a day trip in the old kingdom of Ayutthaya. The old and beautiful town revealed to me the country’s cultural treasures in just a day. Indeed, it was a day spent very well.

Comments

  1. Eds Angeles

    Twas amazing what you did. Didnt have the balls for it, when I recently had a long stay in BKK. Purchasing a 1000baht tour is just too much, so I opted to skip.

  2. April

    Hi! We are going to bangkok and ayutthaya week of April 21. Just a question with your ayutthaya trip, you said that the tuktuk charge 200baht per hour, how many hours and how much did you spend there? 🙂

  3. paz

    Salamat! Ikaw lang yata ang nagsabi about Ayutthaya Mall and the Song Taew ride. Very informative !

  4. […] Only less than two hours from Bangkok makes Ayutthaya an ideal day trip from the Thai capital. Check out how I spent a day in this ancient kingdom in my blog Ayutthaya in a Day. […]

  5. galaera

    hello. plan po namin mag cambodia-thailand kaya lang very limited ang time namin – 4 days lang.. kaya po ba? ang entry and exit point namin is Siem Reap.. how do you suggest that we go to and from Bangkok? kahit sana day tour lang, masulyapan lang ang Thailand kahit konti.. any info regarding sa scheds, fares and travel time is appreciated.. 😀

  6. punta ko dito next week angel, anong oras ka nakabalik sa bkk?! thank you sa reply 🙂

  7. Tony

    san banda yung mga minivan going to ayutthaya? or train? thanks will be there on january

  8. i just love Ayuthaya and one which I hope I can visit when I go to BKK in the future. Loved the photos too. Ang lupet ng kuha, as usual.

    🙂

  9. Ronnie

    When did you go? I just revisited that place last week! Hehe revisiting after 7 years!

    1. Last year pa Ron, dami lang backlogs 😛

  10. denise

    haha…natawa naman ako dun sa “because you like a Thai”…

  11. this is very timely. thanks for this post. few questions.. 60baht din po ba ang van fare pabalik ng bangkok? is it convenient po ba, am travelling with oldies po kasi… planning to travel to Ayuttaya by train, and van going back to Bangkok.. thank you..

    1. Yes Dovie 🙂 60 baht din 🙂

  12. my last day in my last trip to thailand was spent there. great place 🙂

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