Ayutthaya - City Island Bicycle Track II (The Historical Park Loop)

This bicycle tour has been designed to present the most important sites within the Ayutthaya Historical Park and more. This route will include territory designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and some of the more breathtaking and historically relevant ruins on the main city island. This bicycle route will not only lead you to many of the sites listed by travel guidebooks and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) brochures, but it was also go one step further by leading you through some of the lesser known ruins within the Ayutthaya Historical Park. This is the bike route to take if you will only stay in Ayutthaya for one day or less.

Ayutthaya is registered with UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It was voted to this list on December 13th, 1991 at Carthage, Tunisia. There are approximately 221 historical structures in Ayutthaya that have been registered as cultural heritage sites, and many of these ruins are highly concentrated in a government protected section known as Ayutthaya Historic Park, which includes the site of the former Royal Palace.

Ayutthaya Historical Park is situated in an old swampy area called Bung Phra Ram, which is where King U-Thong is believed to have established his kingdom in 1351. This section of the city lay in ruins after the Burmese invaded in 1767, and for many decades it had been plundered and looted. However, it was restored into a city park as early as 1956, during the reign of Field Marshall Phibun Songkhram. Many laws have since been passed to protect this zone from modern development, including attempts to relocate squatters into other sections of the city.

Thailand became a member of UNESCO’s Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1987. Shortly after being registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and increased funding had been made available, the Thai government began its master plan to further develop and conserve sections of the historic city. The Fine Arts Department is now responsible for the maintenance of the Ayutthaya Historic Park, which covers 1/3 of the city island (nearly 3 square kilometers). Meanwhile, other sections of the main city island were set aside for government offices, schools, businesses, and residential neighborhoods.

The tour will take 4-5 hours depending on the time spent at each location point. 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. Motor vehicles often fail to see cyclists and pedestrians, so you must closely watch out for them. Motorcycles are a particularly nasty cause of local accidents. Dogs and potholes can also cause problems, 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 proper city lighting.

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

Who are we?

Ayutthaya Historical Research [AHR] consists of a small group of researchers/writers with the aim to promote Ayutthaya’s cultural heritage. We are local expatriates who have been living in Ayutthaya for many years and would like to share our knowledge with future visitors. Therefore, we have personally tested each of these suggested routes by cycling and/or walking. More information on the authors can be found at: http://www.ayutthaya-history.com/Authors.html

In emergency or accident:

Contact the Ayutthaya Tourist Police Station: 035/241446, 035/242352 or 1155.

Disclaimer

AHR will not be held liable for any loss or damage whatsoever for any suggestions made in relation to the site’s promotion of ecotourism. It is the responsibility of the user of the site to take the necessary precautions to avoid any physical injury, traffic incident, animal attack, theft, and damage to equipment. Any reliance on the site’s information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Read our full disclaimer at our website: www.ayutthaya-history.com.

POI Markings:

Historical signboard in situ is marked as (*)
Entry fee required is marked as ($)

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