Ayutthaya The ancient city of Ayutthaya was the Thai capital for 417 years, and is one of Thailand's major tourist attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen in a city that was founded in 1350  when the Thais were forced southwards by northern neighbors. During the period when Ayutthaya was capital, 33 kings and several dynasties ruled the kingdom, until the glittering city was sacked by the Burmese in 1767, ruined and abandoned. The extensive ruins and the historical records demonstrate that Ayutthaya was one of Southeast Asia's most prosperous cities. In recognition of its historical and cultural importance, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, the location of the ruins adjacent to today's city, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.

Read more