Ayutthaya Historical Park

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UNESCO World Heritage Site
Historic City of Ayutthaya
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Plan of Ayutthaya historical park
Type Cultural
Criteria iii
Reference 576
UNESCO region Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1991 (15th Session)
The head of Buddha in Wat Mahathat

The Ayutthaya Historical Park (Thai: อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์พระนครศรีอยุธยา (Pronunciation)) covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Thailand. The city of Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1350[1]:222 The city was captured by the Burmese in 1569, though not pillaged, it lost "many valuable and artistic objects."[2]:42–43 It was the capital of the country until its destruction by the Burmese army in 1767.[3]

In 1969 the Fine Arts Department began with renovations of the ruins, which became more serious after it was declared a historical park in 1976. A part of the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.[4] Thirty-five kings ruled the Ayutthaya kingdom during its existence. King Narai (1656 CE to 1688 CE) not only held court in Ayutthaya but also from his palace in the nearby city of Lopburi, from where he ruled 8–9 months in the year.[relevant? ]

Park sites[edit]

UNESCO World Heritage Site[edit]

In 1991, a part of Ayutthaya Historical Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria III as an excellent witness to the period of development of a true national Thai art. The inscribed area covered only 289 ha on central and southwest part of Ayutthaya island; as a result, only certain groups of historical sites are under UNESCO protection. The sites including Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Phra Ram and Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bopit. The sites that are not part of World Heritage Sites are the sites outside Ayutthaya Island; for example, Wat Yai Chai Mongkon, Wat Phanan Choeng, Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Phu Khao Thong.


See also[edit]


  3. ^ "Historic City of Ayutthaya - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2012. 
  4. ^ "Ayutthaya, Thailand". KhaoSanRoad.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012. 

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 14°21′N 100°35′E﻿ / ﻿14.350°N 100.583°E﻿ / 14.350; 100.583