The Ayutthaya Kingdom was founded in 1351 by King Ramathibodi I, also known as U-Thong. It was the second Thai empire, after Sukhothai. At the height of its power, Ayutthaya was one of the world’s largest and wealthiest cities with over a million inhabitants.
The city was built on an island surrounded by three rivers, The Chao Phraya, the Pa Sak and the Lopburi river that served as a natural barrier against invaders. Ayutthaya was connected to the Gulf of Siam about 100 kilometers South by the Chao Phraya river.
A number of palaces and many imposing temples were built. Architecture and art were influenced by neighboring empires as Sukhothai and Angkor, as well as China, Japan and several European countries. One of the most clear examples of foreign influence is the large Angkor style prangs like the ones of the Wat Ratchaburana and the Wat Chaiwatthanaram.
During the over four centuries of its existence many wars were fought with rival Kingdoms as Sukhothai, Burma and Angkor. In 1431 ...
Chantaboon Waterfront
Chanthaboon Waterfront Community is an ancient waterfront community located in the heart of Chanthaburi in eastern Thailand.
It is sometimes also written as Chantaboon Waterfront Community. The traditional community dates back to King Narai the Great's reign of Ayutthaya Kingdom (more than 300 years), regarded as the first community of Chanthaburi. The ancestors of this community people are three ethnic groups; Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese.
In the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s reign, it was regarded as the center of the province and was a trading and travel destination for the eastern region.
The community is situated along the Chanthaburi River, opposite the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a historic building and recognized as the most beautiful Catholic church in Thailand. A Chinese temple by name 'Chao Mae Kuan Im' is a prominent landmark inside the Chantaboon Waterfront Community. Also, notable is the Chanthaburi Gemstone market that is ancient and is nearby. The entire ...
Boran Sathan Muang Paniat โบราณสถานเมืองเพนียด and Wat Thong Thua
Wat Thong Thua is located 4 kilometers from town on Sukhumvit Highway and is the site of an ancient Bot built over a Khmer-style temple. It also has a large collection of ancient Khmer sculptures such as lintels, sandstone door columns carved in various designs, and inscription stones. Nearby is the Mueang Phaniat archaeological site, which includes the remains of a laterite base of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats marking the town limit to the south. The ancient town is believed to have been dated from the 12th-16th centuries B.E. (Buddhist Era).
The Mueang Phaniant ancient remains are part of the broader archaeological context surrounding Wat Thong Thua. The site includes the remains of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats that mark the town limit to the south.
The site is unique in that it represents an early - Chenla-period - port originally founded as far back as the 6th to ...
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception อาสนวิหารพระนางมารีอาปฏิสนธินิรมล is a Catholic church and is located in the city of Chanthaburi, in the province of the same name, in Thailand.
The cathedral, visible from most of the city, was formally inaugurated in 1909 as one of the largest Catholic churches in Thailand. It was built on a previous structure of more than 300 years. It was constructed in Gothic style during the 10 years of occupation by France on this territory although it remained unfinished at that time (1893–1904). There is a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of the Cathedral.
The center piece of the inside of the cathedral is the statue of the Virgin Mary. It is covered by semi precious gems donated by the local congregation – estimates of the number of gems range from 200,000 to 500,000.
It serves as the Roman or Latin rite seat of the Diocese of Chanthaburi (Dioecesis Chanthaburiensis, ...
