Ayutthaya - Bang Pa-In Bicycle Track II

This bicycle tour has been designed to bring you from Ayutthaya to Bang Pa-In and back along both banks of the Chao Phraya River. The bicycle track is about 40 Km long and is paved all the way. You will use three different boat ferries, the first one from Chao Phrom to the railway station, the second one south of the Summer Palace and the third one at Wat Khun Phrom. The first part of the track brings you along the Dutch and Japanese settlements and the return way goes over the Portuguese settlement. Biking takes about 2-3 hours, but visiting all the Points of Interest will occupy you the whole day. The main target of this track is a visit to the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, so avoid losing too much time on the way visiting lesser important reference points. The Bang Pa-In Summer Palace starts blocking visitor entry at 15.00 Hr.

Bang Pa-In Palace is by the riverside of the Chao Phraya river, south of the former capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, and about 60 Km north of Bangkok. The original royal summer palace dates back to the late Ayutthaya Period, during the reign of King Prasat Thong (r. 1629-1656). In 1652, he commissioned the palace to be built as a summer retreat. This original palace was the Isuan Thippaya Ahsana Pavilion, surrounded by royal residences. Soon after, Wat Chumpon Nikayaram was erected as a temple built to commemorate the King’s mother, Nang Or-In, who was a native of this village. The temple functioned as a center where royal ceremonies were conducted.

The palace was very popular as a summer retreat with the monarchs until the end of the Ayutthaya period in 1782, when the capital of Siam moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok. During the Early Ratanakosin period, the palace was deserted. Some eight years later King Rama IV (r. 1851-1868) re-activated the palace site. The king commissioned Phraya Ponlathep to restore the palace and subsequently to add three new buildings to the palace compound. He changed the name of the river island from Bang Nang In or Bang Or-In to Bang Pa-In, for aesthetic reasons and out of respect for the name of King Prasat Thong’s mother. The present major palace buildings were mostly added under the commission of his son, King Chulalongkorn (r. 1868- 1910).

A few highlights on this itinerary have been listed more for the sake of smoother navigation and referencing, although they may also appeal to many cyclists as points of interest. Individual cyclists can choose where to stop according to their own tastes and time constraints.

If you are interested in viewing photographs of the temples in advance or would like additional historic information about these ruins, visit our website at www.ayutthaya-history.com.

Tips and Warnings

Bicycles can be rented in different locations on Soi 2 Naresuan Rd, which is the starting point of this tour. Bike rental costs 40-50 Baht (about $1.5) per day on average, which makes bike touring an inexpensive way to see the city. Ayutthaya’s terrain is mostly flat and easy to ride, but many streets and side roads are poorly marked, so use the map to simplify navigation.

Be cautious as traffic in and around Ayutthaya is sometimes chaotic and dangerous. Motor vehicles often fail to see cyclists and pedestrians, so you must closely watch out for them. Motorcycles are a particularly hazardous cause of local accidents. Dogs and potholes can also be dangerous, especially in remote areas. Weather can be very hot, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids and wear sun block. It is inadvisable to drive at night due to the lack of lighting and occasional recklessness of motor traffic.

The theft of bicycles is uncommon in Ayutthaya, but backpacks and cameras have been stolen on rare occasions. It is best to keep valuables with you when visiting the historic sites on route.

Who are we?

Ayutthaya Bicycle Adventure, hereafter called ABA, consists of a small group of bikers with the aim to keep up the overall physical condition in an healthy environment.

Disclaimer

ABA will not be held liable for any loss or damage whatsoever regarding the suggested tracks. It is the responsibility of the user to take the necessary precautions to avoid any physical injury, traffic incident, animal attack, theft, and damage to equipment. Any reliance on the ABA's information is therefore strictly at own risk.

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