The historic city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. In Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, this history meets a distinctive river landscape. To get your bearings, it is helpful to distinguish between the city island, the riverbanks and the broader destination: these names refer to different geographical points of reference.

Ayutthaya’s City Island and Riverbanks

Ayutthaya’s City Island is surrounded by three rivers: the Chao Phraya, the Pa Sak and the Lopburi. Across the wider destination of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, the historic city was designed with a systematic, strictly ordered layout of streets, canals and moats around its main structures. Together, the city’s layout and rivers provide a distinct framework for understanding the region’s sites.

One specific difference can be seen south of the City Island, on the two banks of the Chao Phraya. The Portuguese Settlement is an archaeological site outside the island, in Samphao Lom Subdistrict on the western bank. The Japanese Village is also south of the City Island, but on the eastern bank. The riverbank helps distinguish these two places without conflating them with attractions on the island.

Monuments and Finds in Pratu Chai

Wat Lokayasutharam, also known as Wat Phra Non, is in Pratu Chai Subdistrict, near the Old Palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet. The temple is home to the largest reclining Buddha on Ayutthaya’s City Island. The whitewashed brick-and-stucco figure stands outdoors and is 42 meters long and 8 meters high. These two measurements give a tangible sense of its monumental scale.

The Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, also in Pratu Chai Subdistrict, offers a different perspective on Ayutthaya’s past. It displays gold and jewelry recovered from the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana. While Wat Lokayasutharam stands out for its large figure and construction, the museum focuses on recovered objects. Together, these places offer two distinct points of access: a monument in the urban landscape and a collection directly connected to an excavation site.

Further Perspectives Across the Wider Destination

Across the wider destination of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, the range of historical subjects extends beyond the City Island and the riverside sites mentioned above. Ayutthaya Historical Park lies in the heart of Ayutthaya city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ayutthaya art also brings together different traditions: Sukhothai and Angkor meet influences from Japan, China, India, Persia and Europe.

Trade and cultural exchange are the focus of a small exhibition at the Dutch Village about the historical relations between Ayutthaya and the Netherlands, including the expansion of trade and VOC shipping to Asia. Dutch settlers founded the village in a district of Ayutthaya. Architecture offers a different point of comparison: Wat Niwet Thamma Prawat was built in the Western, or European, Gothic Revival style; its main hall looks more like a Catholic cathedral than a Thai temple. The Wehat Chamrun Throne Hall at Bang Pa-In Palace provides another historical point of reference: Chinese merchants in Thailand built it in 1889 and presented it to King Rama V.

When choosing a vacation rental, you can first consider which focus suits your trip: the City Island and its monuments, archaeological sites along the riverbanks, or other cultural sites across the wider destination. This distinction helps keep your choice of location clear and avoids reducing Ayutthaya’s history to a single setting.

Discover more destinations: Ban Run

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.