Before flying back from Bangkok, we made our last stop at Ayutthaya, north of the capital.

Ayutthaya was founded in 1351 and served as the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Its central location along the Chao Phraya River allowed it to become a major trading hub between China, India, and the rest of Southeast Asia. Here is a map locating the kingdom circa 1400 CE:

The Ayutthaya Kingdom grew in power and wealth over the centuries, and its kings developed a complex system of government and a distinctive culture that blended elements of Thai, Indian, and Khmer traditions. The kingdom also became known for its impressive architecture, particularly its elaborate temples and palaces, many of which still stand today.

Despite its strength and prosperity, Ayutthaya faced numerous challenges throughout its history. The city was invaded and sacked multiple times by the neighboring Burmese Kingdom, most notably in 1569, 1592, and 1767, each time resulting in significant destruction.

The final invasion by the Burmese in 1767 was a catastrophic event that put an end to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The Burmese burned and looted the city, and the surviving inhabitants fled or were captured and enslaved.

They burned most of the temples, but some survived and can be visited nowadays, here are our favorite ruins:

Wat Ratchaburana

Wat Ratchaburana is a Buddhist temple built in 1424 by King Borommarachathirat II, and it is one of the most famous and important temples in Ayutthaya. The site is particularly known for its impressive central prang, which is surrounded by four smaller prangs.

Wat Maha That

This one is Louis' favorite:

Wat Maha That is a Buddhist temple built in the 14th century and served as the center of religious education and administration for the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

The temple is known for its iconic Buddha head statue enveloped by the roots of a banyan tree. This image has become one of the most recognizable and photographed sites in Thailand.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

It was built in the 14th century by King Borommatrailokanat, who used it as a royal palace and a place of worship for the royal family. The temple is known for its distinctive three chedis or stupas, which are bell-shaped structures that house relics of the Buddha:

These chedis are believed to represent the three worlds according to Buddhist cosmology: the world of desire, the world of form, and the formless world.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a Buddhist temple situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It was built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong as a memorial to his mother. The temple is comprised of a central prang (a Khmer-style tower). The complex is also surrounded by a moat and has several statues of Buddha.

This one was Ece’s favorite, because the architecture is a mix of Khmer and Thai styles.

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

This museum holds a collection of artifacts from the temples in the city and exhibits related to the history and culture of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The exhibits include sculptures, paintings, ceramics, coins, weapons, and other objects from the Ayutthaya period. What was quite noticeable was that there were lots of Buddhas. These ones were the most interesting, showing scenes of Buddha’s life, training an elephant, and also his mother:

Then there were less interesting ones, with hundreds of Buddhas carved on small plates:

At this point, we actually realized that we probably saw thousands of Buddha representations in the many temples we visited over our travel. Such crazy numbers made us reflect on the history and belief system of Buddhism, and how it has influenced the cultures and people of Asia. Added to that is the whole industry of selling these statues and images as amulets, contributing to the commercialization and commodification of the religion. Probably Buddha himself would be quite bewildered if he would be alive today, witnessing such an obsession!