Ayutthaya - Historical Park Walk Track

This walking tour has been designed to introduce you to some of the most important historical sites on Ayutthaya’s city island especially in the Historical Park. The tour will take half a day, depending on the time spent at each location point. You can cut short this tour (if you want to restrict your walking) by asking a Tuk-Tuk driver to drop you off at the crossing of Chikun and Naresuan Road near Wat Maha That and Wat Ratcha Burana.

According to the Luang Prasoet chronicle, Ayutthaya was established by King Ramathibodi I on Friday, 4 March 1351 CE, in the vicinity of an ancient settlement dating from the Dvaravati era (6th to the 11th centuries). The city-state expanded its boundaries over the centuries, absorbing the Tai Kingdom of Sukhothai in the 15th century. A magnificent city in the 17th and 18th centuries with a cosmopolitan character, it became one the most important trading hubs of Asia. Ayutthaya was for 417 years the capital of the Siamese. The city fell on Tuesday, 7 April 1767 CE at nightfall to the Burmese, never to arise of its ashes.

The Historical Park of Ayutthaya was established in 1967 CE and from that period onwards, renovation of the ruins started to conserve the Historic City of Ayutthaya. On 13 December 1991 CE, the Historic City of Ayutthaya was awarded the status of World Heritage Site by UNESCO at Carthage, Tunisia. In the park, you will find around forty restored ruins.

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

Tips and Warnings: Be cautious, as traffic in 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 nasty cause of local accidents. Weather can be scorching, so drink plenty of fluids and wear sunblock. Backpacks and cameras have been stolen on rare occasions. So keep an eye on your valuable things when visiting the temples en route.

In case of emergency or accident, contact the Ayutthaya Tourist Police Station: 035/241446 or 1155.