The best of Siam kingdom in a single day. This driving tour will let you see the 2 capital cities of Thailand, each with its own grandeur and history. Ayutthaya was the capital of the Siam Kingdom (Thailand’s old name) from 1351 to 1767 and was considered one of the greatest cities in its time. In its peak in the 17th century Ayutthaya royal court had strong links with that of King Louis XIV of France, whose ambassadors compared the city in size and wealth to Paris. After Ayutthaya’s fall in 1767 the center of the kingdom was moved south and Bangkok soon became the new capital in 1782. It has evolved to be a modern cosmopolitan that is known today for its rich history, culture, and livelihood.
In 1782 King Rama the first established Bangkok as the capital of Siam with the vision of making the city as glorious as Ayutthaya had ever been. You can see clear evidence of this when you visit the old Bangkok (called Rattanakosin island, as it’s surrounded by river and canals). The Grand Palace was erected and its temple Wat Phra Kaew was richly elaborated that it had become the symbol of Bangkok for centuries to come. Many other Royal temples and palaces were found by the subsequent kings and they were almost all very elaborate, beautiful, and one of their kinds.
![Wat Phra Kaew]()
A golden monk statue in front of an elaborately decorated stupa in Wat Phra Kaew
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Wat Phra Kaew is arguably the most important landmark of Bangkok. It is visually stunning and conceptually mystifying, and is revered as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand and thus all the buildings in there are richly elaborated. Commissioned by King Rama I as the royal temple, you will see the glisters of goldalmost everywhere. All the buildings spare nothing on elaboration according to Buddhist and Hindu heritages which are the prevailing religious beliefs in Thailand. The main building houses the Emerald Buddha which is the sacred statue of the Buddha believed to be the protector of Thailand. Around the ground you will see many mystic creatures there including Giants, Garudas, Sihamoni angels, and Kinnara. One ofthe surprised displays is the model of Angkor Wat. All the shires and walls havedeeper stories and it will help to have tour guide.
Wat Pho is a royal temple richly decorated with eastern sculptures and architecture. The temple is classed as the highest grade of the Royal temples in Thailand. King Rama I first rebuilt the temple complex on an earlier temple site, and became his main temple where some of his ashes are enshrined. It was later expanded and extensively renovated by Rama III. The temple complex houses the highly revered 46m long Reclining Buddha, which is 15 m high and 43 m long with his right arm supporting the head. This giant reclining Buddha is a surreal sight and you wouldn’t believe it is housed inconspicuously in the center of busy city like Bangkok. The surrounding area is also beautiful with gardens, sculptures, pagodas – all conveying very interesting mystical stories.
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Wat Phra Mahthat: stone Buddha head wrapped in the roots of a banyan tree. A surreal sight.
![Wat Chaiwattanarm]()
Wat Chaiwattanarm: probably the most intact ruin, set beautifully next to the river
![Wat Yai Chai Mongkol]()
Wat Yai Chai Mang Khon: lying Buddha statue and impressive ruin
![Wat Phra Si Sanphet]()
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet: another beautiful temple ruin
![Wat Panan Choeng]()
Wat Lokkayasutharam: impressive lying buddha (this picture was taken during the great 2011 flood)
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Once considered one of the most elaborate empires of the east, the ancient city of Ayutthaya was Thailand’s capital for 417 years. The kingdom prospered as the major trade and culture center of the region. 33 Kings of different dynasties ruled the kingdom.
Ayutthaya was one the largest and most powerful kingdoms the world had ever seen. In its peak in the 16th century Ayutthaya’s realm included a significant part of Burma, the Lanna Kingdom, the Yunnan & Shan Sri provices of China, Laos and Cambodia (completely), South Vietnam and all of Malaya. It had diplomatic relationship with Louis XIV of France and was frequented by Portuguese, Dutch, English, Japanese and Chinese merchants. During the 17th century, many of its foreign visitors, traders and diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most glittering and illustrious city that they had ever visited. The map of Ayutthaya by Simon de la Loubere in Du Royaume De Siam (published in 1691) can be perhaps one of the proofs of such recognition. But all good things come to an end and Ayutthaya met its demise in 1767, 417 years after its founding, when the city was seized, burnt, and almost completely destroyed by Burmese invaders.