Central Thailand / Ayutthaya

Geographically, the central region extends from rugged western mountains bordering Burma to the northeast plateau; it extends northwards to Nakhon Sawan where the Ping, the Wang, the Nan and the Yom river unite to form the Chao Phaya River (River of Kings) which flows southwards through Bangkok before entering the Gulf of Thailand; southwards the central region reaches (rather culturally and administratively than geographically) well into the Malayan Peninsula, up to Prachuap Khiri Khan Province where the country is less than 20km wide, between the western Burmese mountain range and the Gulf of Thailand.

The Chao Phaya River largely irrigates the central plain, one of the world’s major rice and fruit growing areas, and sustains an intricate network of canals which for centuries supported a unique, waterborne way of life. Though the canal network has lost in economic importance, it still contributes much to the charm of central Thailand.

The central region is extremely rich in historical sites. These include first of all Bangkok, dealt with in a separate section of this book, as well as Ayutthaya, Lopburi and Nakhon Pathom, to name just a few.

Economy

With fertile land and well developed irrigation systems, the central region has a strong base as an agricultural raw material supply source. Major crops produced in the region include rice, maize, sugarcane, and vegetables and fruits. Livestock including poultry, pigs, and beef and dairy cattle is widely raised for domestic as well as export markets. In addition, the region is rich with a number of minerals such as iron, phosphate, limestone, lead, and gems.

The proximity to Bangkok has led to the growth of a number of industries looking to take advantage of the facilities located in and around Bangkok without suffering from the congestion and high land prices in and immediately around the capital city. A number of major industries have located in Ayutthaya, Lopburi and Saraburi. These industries include factories for synthetic fiber, cement, paper and pulp, electronics, and chemical products.

Northern Central Plain

AYUTTHAYA

The ancient city of Ayutthaya, 72km (45mi) north of Bangkok and the capital of Thailand (or rather Siam, as the country was named until 1946) for 417 years, is one of the main tourist attractions of the country. Many ancient ruins and pieces of art can be seen in the city that was made the capital of a new rising kingdom in 1350, after having been a small trading town before.

During the period when Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand, 33 kings of different dynasties ruled and made it a settlement that was, for most of the time it existed, considerably larger than any city in Europe, reaching the grandeur of ancient Rome. In 1767 it was conquered and completely destroyed by the Burmese. (For Ayutthaya’s history in detail, see the chapter Chronicle.)

Ayutthaya today is an assemblage of magnificent ruins that should not be missed by anyone with just the slightest interest in either history or art.

Accommodation

U Thong Inn; 210 Mu 5, Rotchana Rd; Tel 24-2618, 24-2236; 100 rooms, sgl/dbl 400-1,500 (f, ac)

Si Samai; 12 Talad Chao Phrom; Tel 25-1228,
25-1104; 58 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-400 (f, ac)

U Thong Hotel; 86 U Thong Rd, Tel 25-1136

65 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-300 (f, ac)

Cathay; 36/5-6 U Thong Rd, Tel 25-1562

26 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-220 (f, ac)

Wiang Fa; 1/8 Rotchana Rd, Tel 24-1353

22 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)

Thai Tai 1; 13/1 Talad Chao Phrom, Tel 25-1505

27 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-200 (f, ac)

Thai Tai 2; 9 U Thong Rd, Tel 25-1569

6 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)

The principal Buddha here is one of Thailand’s largest bronze images. The Vihara was destroyed when the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya in 1767 and rebuilt in 1956 in its original style.

Wat Na Phramane is a recently restored important 13th century temple opposite the Ancient Palace. An . The most interesting objects are the principal Buddha image, fully decorated in regal attire, and, in the small Vihara, another image made of black stone.

Chao Sam Phaya National Museum

The museum is on Rojana Road, opposite the city wall. It houses various antique bronze Buddha images, famous carved panels and different kinds of Buddhist altars. A receptacle at the Thai Pavilion contains relics of the Buddha and objects of art more than 500 years old. The museum also has a substantial collection of local artifacts. The museum is open every day except Monday and Tuesday.

This Wat on the corner of Chee Kun Road and Naresuan Road was built by King Ramesuan (reigned twice, 1369-1370, 1388-1395) when he was a monk in between his two tenures in 1384. The major structure was a high Prang (Khmer-style pagoda) which was destroyed by Burmese invaders. When the government undertook to restore all Ayutthaya ruins in 1956, the Fine Arts Department excavated the pagoda and found a buried treasure chest containing many valuables. Among the objects discovered were a relic of Lord Buddha, placed inside a golden casket, several golden Buddha images of different sizes, and many other objects in gold, ruby and crystal. These objects are now housed in Bangkok’s National Museum.