Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

Approximately 86km north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya served as the Siamese royal capital from 1350 to 1767. Prior to 1350, when the capital moved here from U Thong, it was a Khmer outpost. The city was named after Ayodhya (Sanskrit for 'unassailable' or 'undefeatable'), the home of Rama in the Indian epic Ramayana. Its full Thai name is Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (Sacred City of Ayodhya).

Although the Sukhothai period is often referred to as Thailand's 'golden age', in many ways the Ayutthaya era was the kingdom's true historical apex - at least in terms of sovereignty, which extended well into present-day Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, dynastic endurance (over 400 years) and world recognition. 33 kings of various Siamese dynasties reigned in Ayutthaya until it was conquered by the Burmese. During its heyday, Thai culture and international commerce fourished in the kingdom and Ayutthaya was courted by Dutch, Portuguese, French, English, Chinese and Japanese merchants. Ayutthaya's population had reached 1 million by the end of the 17th century - virtually all foreign visitors claimed it to be the most illustrious city they had ever seen.