| Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya พระนครศรีอยุธยา |
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| Country | Thailand | ||
| Province | Ayutthaya | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | City municipality | ||
| - Mayor | Somsong Sappakosonlakul | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 14.84 km2 (5.7 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| - Total | 54,888 | ||
| - Density | 3,698.7/km2 (9,579.5/sq mi) | ||
| Registered residents only | |||
| Time zone | Thailand (UTC+7) | ||
| Website | http://www.ayutthayacity.go.th | ||
Ayutthaya (full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thai: พระนครศรีอยุธยา, IPA: [ajutʰajaː]; also spelled "Ayudhya") city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. The city was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam. It is estimated that Ayutthaya by the year 1600 CE had a population of about 300,000, with the population perhaps reaching 1,000,000 around 1700 CE, making it one of the world's largest cities at that time.[1]
In 1767 the city was destroyed by the Burmese army, resulting in the collapse of the kingdom. The ruins of the old city now form the Ayutthaya historical park, which is recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was refounded a few kilometers to the east. The city is sometimes called "Venice of the East".[2][3][4]
Ayutthaya was named after the city of Ayodhya in India, the birthplace of Rama in the Ramayana (Thai, Ramakien).
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The city is located at the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers, and on the main north-south railway linking Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The old city is on an island formed by a bend of the Chao Phraya on the west and south sides, the Pa Sak on the east side and the Klong Muang canal on the northern side.
The approximate centre of the old city is 14°20′N 100°34′E / 14.333°N 100.567°E
 The ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram feature a central corn-cob shaped stupa called a prang, showing the influence of the Khmer Empire. |
 Sharp-pointed pinnacle atop bell-shape, called a chedi of Ceylonese influence. |
 Sharp-pointed pinnacle atop square shape, known as a chedi, is a distinct Thai style. |
 Wat Phra Si Sanphet at night. |
 The 19 meter high seated bronze Buddha of Wat Phanan Choeng dates from 1324 |
 Short video showing a few of the highlights of Ayutthaya |
  | Photos and Videos of Ayutthaya - Thailand Pictures, includnig Bangkok, Ko Samet, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, and Chiang Mai |
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