Ayutthaya is the ruins of ancient Siam's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site an hour from Bangkok. Once the world's largest city, destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, today it impresses with the scale of its temples and the atmosphere of a bygone era.

History of the Kingdom

Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and served as the capital of a thriving kingdom for four centuries. At its peak, a million people lived here - more than in London or Paris at that time. 33 kings ruled from this city until the Burmese army razed it to the ground.

Destruction

In 1767, the Burmese burned the city, beheaded Budd...