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Map of the island city of
Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is an island city in the center of Thailand founded
in 1350. This city flourished for more than 400 years, and at its peak,
supported hundreds of thousands of residents. Surrounded by the Chao Phraya,
Lopburi and Pasak rivers, it was easily accessed for trade by foreigners in
centuries past. The Portuguese, Dutch, French, Indians, Chams, Malays, and
Japanese all regarded this city highly for the gold, silk and spices found here,
and some cultures, like the Portuguese and Japanese built permanent communities.
Canals, natural and man made still exist to this day for transport of goods.
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In 1991, Ayutthaya was designated as a World Heritage Site for
having historical and architectural merit with outstanding universal value.
The photos speak for themselves.
Gateway with a view of
large Stupa in the background
Wat Mahathat was a royal monastery and served as the seat
for the head of the Buddhist monks.
Ransacked and burned to the ground in 1767, it still
remains in ruins.
Severed head of Buddha
During the Burmese invasion many Buddha images were
plundered or broken.
Buddha head with Bodhi
tree roots embracing it
This Buddha face is said to have been placed here by a
thief to be retrieved later.
However, since it was never collected, this bodhi tree's
roots eventually grew around it.
Akaisha standing next to
the reclining Buddha to show you the size
Pra Bhuddhasaiyart, reclining Buddha: the position Buddha
took when he passed from this world.
Buddha statue after
Buddha statue wrapped in gold/orange cloth
Wat Yai Chai-mongkal escaped much of the pillaging of
foreign invasions.
Buddha statue with Stupa
behind it
Wat Chaiwatthanaram was besieged by Burmese invaders and
became an army camp.
Later, the Wat was completely abandoned.
A headless Buddha statue
pays tribute to the past
Looting, the decapitation of Buddha images and the selling
of brick from the Wat became common practice.
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This statue remains
whole, draped in orange/gold cloth by devotees
A Buddha image that escaped the rampage.
Beautiful green grounds
with remains of Stupa
Although in ruins, some Wats are well groomed with
manicured gardens.
Large reclining Buddha
draped in royal cloth
Another reclining Buddha at Wat Yai Chai-mongkol.
Thriving garden with
Buddha statue
Elegant grooming, stunning ruins.
Giant Buddha with Stupa
Peace and Majesty of the Wat
Buddha in the pose of receiving Enlightenment, The Earth as
a Witness.
This is one of my favorite
poses of Buddha.
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Worn pathway at Wat Mahathat
A certain stillness here.
These constructions
still represent the work and devotion put into them.
Although in ruins, the immensity of these structures is clearly visible.
Roofless ruin with
Buddha Stupa behind it
Relics of the Buddha were found in the stupa located here
at Wat Mahathat.
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About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on
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they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since
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