Staff Writer

Ayutthaya is a city filled with history, and its convenient location less than two-hours drive from Bangkok makes it the ideal short trip during a stopover, or even at the weekend among Bangkok's short-term visitors or longer-term residents.

History on tap

Ayutthaya was established in 1350 by King U Thong (Ramathibodi), who made it the capital of what became the Kingdom of Ayutthaya (1351-1767) after moving his court south to flee an epidemic. He named the city after the Hindu holy city of Ayodhya in northern India, said to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama, hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is interesting to note that the Ayothaya Hotel uses a rather unconventional spelling, which is actually closer to the spelling used in India than the more commonly used Thai transliteration (Ayutthaya).

Ancient Ayutthaya was unique in that is was friendly towards foreign traders, including Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Persians, and Vietnamese (Annam). Later the Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Spanish established a significant presence after the kingdom permitted these groups to set up their own villages outside the city walls. During the sixteenth century, foreign traders described the city as one of the biggest and wealthiest in Asia.

Ramathibodi swiftly acted to unify his kingdom using religion (Buddhism) as one tool in this effort. In 1360, he declared Theravada Buddhism as Ayutthaya's official religion, bring members of a Sangha (a Buddhist monastic community) from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) to establish new religious orders and spread the faith among his subjects.

The importance of Buddhism to Ayutthaya throughout the pinnacle of its history is immediately clear to visitors due to the ancient city's numerous temple sites. The ruins of the historic city and “associated historic towns” within what is known as Ayuttthaya Historical Park were listed as World Heritage sites by Unesco.

Reasonable rates

While it would be easy to see a lot of Ayutthaya's historic sites within a day, a stopover provides a more leisurely format. During a recent visit with my sons, we stayed at the Ayothaya Hotel, a comfortable yet affordable hotel which is about 30 years old.

Obviously the age of the building means that it lacks some of the 'flashiness' found in more modern hotel properties. But if you're expecting to spend more of your time exploring the city than inspecting the nooks and crannies of your bedroom wardrobe, this place provides the ideal base.

What the hotel terms a 'Thai Guest House' room costs just 650 baht* (US$19) per night. My two children (below 11 years old) stayed from free. However, you should always double check with the hotel first since this may be 'discretionary' based upon the children's ages and other factors. Although this does not include the hotel's buffet breakfast (add 140 baht per person), it still represents a very affordable price for the less snobbish or picky tourist.

If parents are wondering what their children might do during a visit to Ayutthaya, Ayothaya Hotel offers one very valuable and practical option. While its rooftop pool is far from palatial, it is certainly clean and usable.

The slightly 'up market' backpacker commonly referred to these days as a 'flashpacker' will revel in this accommodation bargain. For just a little more than a regular guest house rate, you get the added comfort of a television in your room along with a bit more privacy.

The heritage trail

Someone just arriving in the country may find local forms of transport, such as songthaew (a kind of pick-up with bench seats) or Ayutthaya's very unique form of tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw) a bit 'challenging' due to possible language barriers. In this case, you might consider an organized package. Ayothaya Hotel offers several organized packages, starting from just 900 baht per person. This package includes visits to the sites of seven temples and includes lunch. Families who are visiting the country for the first time may find these packages offer the most practical sightseeing format.

Unfortunately, there are no taxis in Ayutthaya, which is a shame for the independent traveler.

However, the city is a haven for reasonably adept motorcyclists or cyclists. New automatic motorcycle models, such as the popular Yamaha Fino, are available for rent for just a few hundred baht. Please note that you may asked to leave some form of security, such as your passport or another official document when renting a motorcycle.

This form of transport offers obvious benefits for those wishing to take their time when visiting the ancient city's temples since the sites are quite spread out. Drivers may wish to rent a car, which offers similar benefits. Secure parking is available at the hotel.

For further details of room rates and facilities at the Ayothaya Hotel, including rates for the hotel's more luxurious suites, visit the hotel's official website at http://www.ayothayahotel.com, or call Tel: +66 (0)35 251 018.

* Please note that the room featured in the photo accompanying this article is a 'Superior' room, which is priced at 1,200 baht per night.