It was our second day in Bangkok and we were off to Ayuthaya, the capital of Siam from 1350 until 1767. Granny relaxed during the train ride.
Once we arrived, we got into a tuk-tuk and made our way to Wat Maha That.
One of the most popular sights in the Wat is the Buddha head entwined in a tree. I have not found any explanation of why or how the head found its way to the tree.
Wat Maha That was one ot the important temples in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The area is filled with structures and statues. Many of the Buddha statues have been beheaded. The area was destroyed when the Burmese invaded in 1767,
Above and below are pictures of the Wat.
We also visited nearby Wat Phra Si Samphet which was considered the holiest temple in Ayuthaya. This Wat had a number of well preserved (restored) chedi or stupas. Meanwhile, Vicky had her hands full pushing Granny from one site to another.
After visiting a couple of Wats, it was back into the tuk-tuk to take us to the boat for our trip up the river. We were on our way to see the Royal Summer Palace.
I was intrigued by the activity on the river and the buildings on the banks of the river. Large barges were being towed. The buildings along the river appeared to be far more substantial and prosperous than what we saw along the Mekong in Viet Nam.
There is quire a long line between the tow boat and the barge. The boat on the left is towing the barge on the right. Another staple of the river are the long tail boats. These boats have a LONG drive shaft attached to a motor. This allows them to navigate in very shallow waters. One thing that struck me as odd, was the long tail boars are'nt powered by an outboard motor size motor. Instead they have car engines.
On the way to the Summer Palace, we stopped at Wat Niwethammaprawat. This wat is on an island although techically on the palace grounds. It is one of the few Buddhist temples built in the architectural style of a European church.
I thought the statue of the king on horseback was a bit unusual in the Wat. On the right is a picture of our transportation from the island to the mainland and the Summer Palace.
We wandered around the palace grounds admiring the beautiful buildings.
