Ayutthaya is globally renowned for its multitude of temples. The large number of prominent temples has made the region a popular destination among tourists in search of culture and heritage. The Thousand Golden Temple Cruise takes you across the many ‘Wats’ or shrines of the district while floating along the waters of the River Thonburi.
The second capitol of Siam, Ayutthaya was considered a central location between India, the Malay Archipelago and China for centuries. This made the Island nation a major stopover of Asian trade and commerce. It is believed that in the 1700’s Ayutthaya was the largest metropolis of the world and was home to a million residents.
Traders and merchants from the known world including the land of the Arabs, Netherlands, China, France, India, Portugal, Japan and Europe sailed to the shores of this resplendent Isle and proclaimed its exquisite beauty to the world. Ancient French and Dutch maps of the city display palaces of gold, grand ceremonies and an unimaginable number of trading vessels from every corner of the earth.
The city’s doom came with the invading Burmese. They pillaged and plundered the beautiful city and destroyed it almost completely. Today the once magnificent city remains a land of ruins and remnants. What is left consists of stone made reliquary towers, temples, monasteries and palaces. Out of these it is the temples that still create awe and admiration for the lost city.
The temples although in a state of ruin are still considered places of sacred reverence. These Wats comprise the largest temple of Ayutthaya, Phra Si Sanphet, the Viharna Phra Mongkol Bopit housing the famed bronze cast Buddha image, Wat Phra Mahathat known for the headless Buddha statues, the Ratchaburana Wat with the impressive Prang, the functioning temple of Thammikarat, the modern Wat Suwan Dararam, the ancient Phra Ram Wat, the queen memorial, Phra Chedi Suriyothai and Wat Borom Phuttharam also known as the ‘Glazed Tile Temple’.
If your perfect getaway includes a Bangkok cruise tour taking in the sights and sounds of the enthralling region, then the Ayutthaya Thousand Golden Temples tour should be among the highest on the list. This among the Anantara Cruises Thailand includes the exploration of the history, culture and religion of a rich heritage. One of the finest Bangkok cruises the Thousand Golden Temple Tour would be the perfect way to explore Thailand.
