Travel Thailand
Ayutthaya
A major historic city in Thailand, Ayutthaya is home to ancient Buddhist statues, temples and monasteries. It is a great place to experience the rich history of one of Thailand's cities as well as the Buddhist religion in Thailand.
Pictured above is Wat Phra Mahthat, a large stone Buddha head engulfed in an enormous tree. It is suspected that the growth of surrounding vegetation after a devastating flood led to the creation juxtaposing man-made art and nature. However, according to legend, this was where two brothers fought to be the King of Siam. The winner,
King Ramathibodi I, built the palace and Buddha statues here to honor his brother. Many believe that this head originated from those statues, and that this one in particular represents the defeated brother.
Wat Panan Choeng, is a great way to respectfully experience religious ceremonies as it is still used today. It is also home to the Golden Buddha, a massive golden statue that serves as a sacred figure for mariners. It is one of the oldest, largest, and most worshipped statues in Thailand. Legends say that it wept tears when Ayutthaya was burned down by the Burmese in 1767.