Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

The name Ayutthaya derives from the Sanskrit word Ayodhyā, found in the Ramayana, which means "the invincible [city]". Grammatically, this word is composed of the morphemes a- 'not' + yodhya 'defeatable' (from the root yudh- 'to fight') + ā, a feminine suffix.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, covering 2,557 square kilometres (987 sq mi),[2] is on the flat river plain of the Chao Phraya River valley. The presence of the Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers makes the province a major rice farming area. The province is one of only 10 provinces with no forests.[5]

A description of the Siamese method for creating magic squares, in Simon de la Loubère's 1693 A new historical relation of the kingdom of Siam.

Ayutthaya was founded in 1351^[a] by King U-Thong. However, the establishment of Ayutthaya is far older than 14th century. Evidence shown that the area was already populated during Mon Dvaravatiperiod. Sources further mentioned that around 850 AD, the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold there, named it as Ayodhya after one of the holiest Hindu cities of India of the same name. Early history of Ayutthaya is historically connected to this Khmer settlement.[6][7] Consistently, Prince Damrong also agreed that there was a city called Ayodhya which was found by the Khmers ruling from Lopburi at the point where the three rivers meet.[8] Excavation map shows the traces from an ancient baray (water reservoir) close to the southwestern tip of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon which could has been built on a former important Khmer temple complex.[9]

Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand (then called Siam) for 417 years from 1351 until it was sacked by the Burmese army in 1767. During this era, now usually referred as the Ayutthaya period or Ayutthaya kingdom, Ayutthaya was ruled by 33 kings of five different dynasties. The kingdom became a major regional player, and a trade center of the East, a meeting point of European merchants and Asian traders. Notable monarchs during the Ayutthaya period include King Naresuan the Great, who liberated Ayutthaya from the first Burmese occupation and embarked on a reign of conquest, and King Narai the Great, who initiated diplomatic relations with France, during the reign of Louis XIV. His reign was the golden age of trade and culture.

The city was strategically positioned. During several months of the year, the flood plains around the cities would be flooded by the many rivers around the city. Enemy sieges were thus impossible, and forced to withdraw. This advantage was a contributing factor in the many failed Burmese invasions.

The ruins of the old capital in the Ayutthaya historical park have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 1991. The province is also home to the Bang Pa-in summer palace complex.

Originally named Krung Kao (กรุงเก่า), the province was renamed Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in 1919.[10]

Buddha head overgrown by fig tree, Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya historical park

According to legend, King Ramathibodi I found a beautiful conch shell buried in the ground, and chose the site as the place for his capital. He then placed the shell on a pedestal tray and built a pavilion around it. The seal shows this pavilion with the provincial tree behind it.

The provincial flower is the ดอกโสน (RTGS: dok sano) Sesbania aculeata, and the provincial tree is the fragrant manjack (Cordia dichotoma). The provincial slogan ราชธานีเก่า อู่ข้าวอู่น้ำ เลิศล้ำกานท์กวี คนดีศรีอยุธยา can be translated as "Old capital city, food larder of the country, poets laureate galore, and national heroes".

Honda has an automobile factory in the province. Honda produces hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and batteries for electric vehicles there, and at its factory in Prachin Buri. Honda's Ayutthaya factory has an annual capacity of 300,000 units.[11]

Ayutthaya, on the central plains, historically has three seasons:

• Hot season: March – May
• Rainy season: June – October
• Cool season: November - February

Ayutthaya Railway Station

• Rail: Ayutthaya's main station is Ayutthaya Railway Station. Ban Phachi Junction in Phachi District regarded as an important junction of the Northern and Northeastern Railway Lines. Bang Pa-in Railway Station in the southern part of the province near the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace has a royal pavilion associated with King Rama V.
• Boat: Ayutthaya has many piers that can be boarded by river cruise from Bangkok pier.
• Roads: Phahonyothin Road (Thailand Route 1) is the main road of Ayutthaya. It begins at Victory Monumemt in Bangkok and runs northward as far as reaching Ayutthaya then continues past many provinces before ending at the border of Myanmar in Chiang Rai Province. Other roads that reach Ayutthaya, such as Chaeng Watthana Road or Ngamwongwan Road from north of Bangkok to link the local roads etc. Can travel to here by bus and minibus from both Northern Bus Terminal and Rangsit.

Ayutthaya's main hospital is Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Health	Education	Employment	Income
3	17	3	16
Housing	Family	Transport	Participation
52	38	10	40
Province Ayutthaya, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.6811 is "high", occupies place 2 in the ranking.

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[4]

Map with provinces and HAI 2017 rankings

Floating pavilion in Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Bang Pa-In District

Chinese-style Palace, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Ayutthaya is 76 kilometres north of Bangkok and boasts numerous ruins. Such ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one of Indochina's most prosperous cities. The Ayutthaya Historical Park is a vast stretch of historical sites in the heart of Ayutthaya city.

There were three palaces in Ayutthaya: Grand Palace, Chantharakasem Palace or the Front Palace, and Wang Lang or the Rear Palace. In addition, there were many other palaces and buildings for royal visits outside the city area of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, such as Bang Pa-In Palace at Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Luang Building in the Nakhon Luang District.[16][17]

To promote tourism, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya government has organized a light and sound show at Ayutthaya Historical Park in every beginning of the year as "Yor Yos Ying Fah: Ayutthaya World Heritage" consistently for about 10 days.[18]

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has many renowned dishes such as

• Roti sai mai: desserts adapted from Indian roti. Ayutthaya's roti sai mai is the legacy of Muslims who have lived here since the Ayutthaya period.[19]
• Kung maenam pao: Ayutthaya is one of Thailand that is famous for its grilled giant river prawns. There are many restaurants that serve this menu.[20]

• Ayutthaya Kingdom
• Ayutthaya Historical Park
• Expo 2020

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ayutthaya.

• Ayutthaya travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Ayutthaya Expo 2020
• Historical Park of Ayutthaya in Thai Version
• Provincial page, Tourism Authority of Thailand
• Website of province
• Thailand photos of Ayutthaya
• Ayutthaya provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp