Ayutthaya

About this place

For 417 years, Ayutthaya was one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan cities, a center of global diplomacy and trade. When Burmese invaders destroyed it in 1767, they left behind haunting ruins that earned UNESCO World Heritage status. The Historical Park covers 289 hectares and includes palaces, Buddhist temples, and monasteries. The iconic Buddha head entwined in tree roots at Wat Mahathat is Thailand's most photographed ruin.