Ayutthaya Ancient Capital

Ancient capital Ayutthaya Tour departure: daily except Fridays and Sundays. Experiences comparable to a trip to ancient Angkor ... Ayutthaya was the main city of the kingdom of the same name, which preceded the state of Siam. The city was founded in 1350. Many scholars believe Ayutthaya was one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia. The architecture of this city is indeed renowned for its grandeur. According to local legends, many local landmarks were once covered in gold but were later plundered. Due to frequent looting and destruction, today you can find the remains of towers and fortress walls, ruined palaces, and temples. Nevertheless, Ayutthaya is a modern city where ancient ruins blend harmoniously with new buildings. At the end of the 20th century, the historic center of Ayutthaya became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour program: 07:30 — departure from Pattaya to see the ancient capital in all its splendor; Visit to Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon monastery – an active 14th-century complex still inhabited by monks. It features a large bell-shaped stupa built to commemorate King Naresuan's victory over the Burmese, and panoramic views of the historic park are available from the summit platform; Meet the most photogenic relic of Ayutthaya – the stone Buddha head entwined by the roots of a sacred Bodhi tree. This composition is located in the ruins of Wat Mahathat, the “Repository of the Great Relic,” founded in 1374. Its 43-meter prang served as a royal monastery, and our guide will tell the story of the unusual “fusion” of nature and Buddhist sanctity; Walk through the former royal chapel Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Three massive bell-shaped chedis built to store the ashes of rulers became symbols of Siam’s golden age. There once stood a 16-meter statue of Buddha covered with hundreds of kilograms of gold, where ceremonies took place that even monks were barred from attending; Lunch at an authentic Thai restaurant – chefs prepare regional dishes so you can taste the true flavors of central Thailand; Visit to Wat Na Phra Men – the only temple not destroyed by the Burmese. Built in the early 16th century on the north side of the island, it has an ornamented ubosot with a winged Garuda above the entrance, eight columns, and a six-meter crowned Buddha image. The legend of a failed shot that stopped a siege gives this place a special mystique; Visit to the temple on the Chao Phraya riverbank – Wat Chaiwatthanaram, where the “Temple of Light” scene from the movie Mortal Kombat was filmed. King Prasat Tong built the complex in 1630; the central prang is 35 meters high and surrounded by four small towers and eight galleries. The temple served for royal rituals and cremations, and today you can take stunning sunset shots here; 19:00 — return to Pattaya. In the evening you will bring home excellent photos, impressions, and inspiration that will stay with you for a long time. Tour price includes: Transfer from and to hotel in Pattaya Entry tickets to the temple complex Lunch Russian-speaking guide Insurance Please bring: Passport copy Clothing for temples (covered shoulders and knees) Comfortable shoes Headwear Hotel breakfast Money for personal expenses. ATTENTION Children's tickets are valid for height 90 – 120 cm. Children under 90 cm are free. Tour time 06:30-19:00 Persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be denied service on the tour with loss of paid funds.