Buddha in front of temple – Ayutthaya, Thailand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGetting to Ayutthaya, Thailand<\/h2>\n The best way to visit Ayutthaya is by hopping on a Northbound train from the Bangkok Railway Station. Third class train tickets on the ordinary train only cost 15baht and are fairly comfortable – Provided you are able to snag a seat. On the way, I was able to relax in one of the modestly cushioned seats and snap pictures of the passing scenery. The trip was listed at an hour and a half – but ended up taking a solid two hours. If you get lucky (or check the timetable beforehand) you can catch an express train that will deliver you in Ayutthaya a bit faster.<\/p>\n
My trip back was also in third class – first and second class seats seem to sell out fast. When I headed back to Bangkok in the evening there were no seats left. The train was a bit crowded so I needed to stand for the two-hour trip back to Bangkok. But, for 15 baht I can’t complain!<\/p>\n
Once you arrive at the train station you will need to cross the river onto the main island. There is a ferry that will take you across for 5 baht each way. If you rent a bike or motorcycle you can always cross into the city over the bridge.<\/p>\n
If you have the baht to spare you could take a taxi to Ayutthaya. This option will be much more expensive and won’t really save you time. In fact, with Bankok’s traffic taking a taxi will likely be slower.<\/p>\n
Getting Around Ayutthaya, Thailand<\/h2>\n This time I opted for a tuk-tuk tour of the city since I was only there for a day. If I had more time I would have planned a bike trip around the Ayutthaya. The price most tuk-tuk drivers ask for is 300baht per hour, but I was able to find a 2-hour tour for 500 baht. The drivers know the area well and can suggest popular spots to visit. I told the driver where I wanted to go and he added a couple additional stops. We bargained for the price, planned the 2-hour itinerary, and were on our way in under 5 minutes – a vastly different experience from tuk-tuk drivers in other cities!<\/p>\n
Renting a motorcycle would be a good alternative to taking a tuk-tuk around the city. Motorcycles cost roughly $10 (350 baht) for the day. I was worried about the driving in Ayutthaya, but once I saw the roads was put at ease. Traffic in Ayutthaya – and driving conditions -are much better than I have come to expect from Southeast Asia. If I visit Ayutthaya again in the future I will have no qualms about exploring the town by motorcycle.<\/p>\n
Things To See<\/h2>\n A list of places to visit in Ayutthaya can be easily found online, but here are three of my favorite stops. Planning out your trip first is recommended to avoid backtracking – the journey between temples can be long if you are biking around.<\/p>\nBuddha head in tree – Ayutthaya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWat Mahathat<\/strong><\/p>\nThis was the first stop I made, and it was possibly the most impressive. It is a large grouping of ruins and has the ‘head of Buddha in a tree trunk’ – one of the most famous places to visit. I spent quite a while wandering around Wat Mahathat.<\/p>\nWat Yai Chai Mongkhon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWat Yai Chai Mongkhon<\/strong><\/p>\nThe temple here has rebuilt to some extent so it gives off a different feeling from the other temples. The reason why I loved Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon was because I could hike up to the top! The views looking down from the temple are amazing and definitely worth the visit. Inside the temple is a wishing well of sorts – a long drop down to a metal tray. Supposedly, your wish will be granted if your coin lands in the tray.<\/p>\n
Wat Chaiwatthanaram<\/strong><\/p>\nA postcard view of a large prang awaits you at Wat Chaiwatthanaram. The buildings here are in good condition considering the damaging effects of time and war in the area. There are a lot of ruins in Ayutthaya but this is a good place to visit.<\/p>\nWat Phra Sri Sanphet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWat Phra Sri Sanphet<\/strong><\/p>\nThis is one of the largest and most visited clusters of ruins in Ayutthaya. There is a model showing the arrangement of the city before it was destroyed. This is great because shows the immense size of the city in a way that the ruins can’t. There are a lot of ruins to see here, as well as a massive trio of stupas. The stupas have been rebuilt to show how they would have looked before they were destroyed.<\/p>\n
Getting a hotel in Ayutthaya<\/h2>\n If I changed anything about my visit to Ayutthaya, it would be to spend a second day there. When I headed home in the evening there were still a lot of things that I wanted to see and do. I passed by numerous guest houses and budget hotels in Ayutthaya as I toured the city. It would have been great to stay a night in Ayutthaya if I hadn’t already booked a hotel in Bangkok. I guess there is always time for a return visit! \nCheck out these deals on Booking.com for special rates on hotels in Ayutthaya!<\/p>\n
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