Ancient Palace & Temple Ruins
This sprawling park area showcases the splendor of the ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya, which flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park preserves the ruins of this once-thriving capital, with its temples, palaces, courtyards and city walls. Additionally, the kingdom inherited vestiges of Khmer Hindu sanctuaries, which were often absorbed into the Buddhist temple landscape or rebuilt with syncretic architecture and iconography that blended both traditions.

​​

The Ayutthaya Kingdom, though officially Theravāda Buddhist, incorporated a strong undercurrent of Hinduism, particularly in royal rituals, state symbolism, and temple art. Hindu deities—especially Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—were worshipped in royal contexts, often alongside Buddhist veneration. Hindu worship was primarily integrated into royal and state ceremonial centers, where the Devarāja (God-King) cult and Trimurti offerings played a central role in affirming the divine legitimacy of kingship. Within the palace grounds, Brahmin shrines served as sacred spaces for coronations, astrological rites, and ritual offerings conducted by court Brahmins.

​

Many major Buddhist temples in Ayutthaya display significant Hindu iconography, reflecting the deep cultural and religious syncretism of the period. Wat Phra Ram, for instance, was built on the site of a former Khmer Hindu sanctuary and likely incorporates the foundations of earlier shrines. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the royal temple within the Grand Palace compound, does not feature Hindu idol worship today, but its rituals once invoked Hindu cosmology, with deities such as Indra playing a role in royal ceremonies. Wat Chaiwatthanaram is designed around the concept of Mount Meru, a sacred mountain central to both Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, and its central prang reflects clear Khmer and Hindu architectural influences. Wat Mahathat, possibly constructed atop earlier Khmer or Hindu structures, contains visible motifs such as Garuda, naga, and linga-like forms. At Wat Na Phra Men, a statue of Vishnu in royal attire still stands—often mistaken for a Buddha—showcasing unique Hindu-Buddhist syncretism. Similarly, Wat Ratchaburana features richly detailed Khmer-style stucco depicting Hindu deities like Shiva and Vishnu riding Garuda, reinforcing the enduring presence of Hindu symbolism in Ayutthaya’s temple landscape.

​

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

The Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, located in the heart of Ayutthaya’s old city, was established in the early 1960s to house priceless artefacts rescued from the ancient temple crypts of Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Mahathat. Its flagship collection—housed in three climate-controlled exhibition rooms—is often referred to as the Ayutthaya Gold Treasure Exhibition, showcasing over 2,200 gold artifacts unearthed during excavations in the 1950s. Highlights include the legendary Sword of Victory (Phra Saeng Khan Chai Sri), meticulously crafted royal headgear, golden votive tablets, jewels, miniature ceremonial utensils, and the elegant royal elephant saddle (Phra Kachathan replica)—all dazzling examples of royal regalia and sacred offerings. Visitors can also admire additional artifacts such as Buddha images and exquisitely carved wooden panels on the ground floor, while the upper level presents votive tablets and comparative ceramics from across Thailand’s historical eras. This museum offers a rare glimpse into the ceremonial splendor and artistic mastery of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, all under one roof.

​

Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, located near Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya Historical Park, houses one of Thailand’s largest bronze Buddha statues, standing about 17 meters high including its base. Originally cast in the 16th century during King Chairachathirat’s reign, the statue was later moved and enshrined in a vihāra built by King Songtham. Over time, both the statue and the structure suffered damage from lightning and the Burmese invasion, but were restored—most notably in 1955 and again in the 1990s, when the statue was gilded with gold leaf. The vihāra is a simple yet elegant building, with a red multi-tiered roof and white walls, offering a serene space for worship. Today, it remains an active temple and a major cultural attraction, drawing both devotees and visitors daily. 

​

City Pillar Shrine
The Ayutthaya City Pillar Shrine, though now primarily seen through a Buddhist lens, is deeply rooted in Brahmin-Hindu tradition. The pillar itself symbolizes a cosmic axis, echoing Shaivite concepts of the lingam as the center of creation and protection. Historically linked to nearby San Phra Kan—a former Brahmin shrine with statues of Shiva, Vishnu, and Ganesha—the site reflects Ayutthaya’s earlier Hindu guardian rituals. The current shrine, reconstructed in 1982, incorporates Hindu-inspired elements such as the lotus-topped column and tiered finial resembling Indra’s vajra.