The Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom which was later renamed Thailand. It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce.
It was the capital of Thailand until 1767 and is noted for its canals and ruins. Siam had been the name of the kingdom for almost 800 years. Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai.
It was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century. Its remains, characterized by the reliquary towers called prang and gigantic Buddhist monasteries, give an idea of its past splendor.
Ayutthaya is located close to Bangkok, the current capital of Thailand. Ayutthaya had a population of over 1 million and was one of the largest cities in the world at the time. In the 14th to 17th centuries Siam was one of the most powerful and richest states in Southeast Asia.
The Historical Park of Ayutthaya, which hosts the ruins of the prosperous capital of the kingdom, is a must-see for every traveler. In 1767, the Burmese attacked Siam, destroyed and burned the capital, leaving only ruins.
The Burmese beheaded the Buddha statues to break the spirit of the Thais. Ayutthaya is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
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