Ayutthaya

An hour and a half north of Bangkok by train (or longer and more interesting by river cruise), Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam from 1351 until the Burmese sacked it in 1767. The brick-and-laterite ruins of the royal city — Wat Mahathat with the famous tree-rooted Buddha head, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the riverbank — are now a UNESCO site that can be cycled in a long afternoon. Sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, with the prang silhouettes against an orange sky, is the photograph most visitors come for.

Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya, a weathered sandstone Buddha head cradled by twisted living banyan tree roots, ancient brick stupa ruins behind in soft afternoon light
Buddha head in banyan roots, Wat Mahathat.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya, three restored Sri Lankan-style chedis rising over the crumbling brick foundations of the former royal temple under dramatic late afternoon clouds
Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset, the Khmer-influenced central prang and surrounding stupas reflected in the Chao Phraya River under a warm orange sky with no visitors
Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset.

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