During our last trip to Thailand, we had a chance to visit Thailand's ancient capital call Ayutthaya. It's only an hour train or car ride away from Bangkok which makes this a perfect day trip. Here are things to consider if you ever are travelling to Thailand!
Transportation
A train ride is an absolutely fun mode of transportation. The Aphiwat Central Terminal Station is situated a little bit further away from the city center but it is connected to Bangkok subway system so getting to it is a breeze. Don't expect a futuristic high speed train ride as the featured train for this route is an old school locomotive. The tickets can be purchased at the station on the day of. There is a 1st class car with air-conditioner but for a raw experience, try the 2nd class car where you get to feel the Thai breeze along with local Thais. We departed around 9 am and arrive just after the hour.
Morning Caffeine and Breakfast
Before we head out to the Ayutthaya main site, an iced drink with a light breakfast was in order. We stopped by ศีคราม Sikram cafe and chillaxed in the cooling courtyard. The owner's cat roaming about while the hustle and bustle sound of the cars passing contrasts with serene space. The Iced Thai Tea Cocoa Latte and the Runny Egg with Salt and Pepper Shrimp was satisfying.
Archaeological Site of the Ancient Capital
Ayutthaya is an island surrounded by an "elephant proof" moat. You can read up on the history from Wikipedia here. The Chao Praya river surrounds the area, flowing the water into the constructed defense. We head to the main site, crossing over to the island and spent time strolling and observing a few areas. The city is fairly huge with many artifacts and building still standing. For a day trip, you can rent a Tuk Tuk driver for a guided tour or walk along the various connected parks at your leisure. Iconic sites which we've visited were the Buddha Head encapsulated in an overgrown tree and the many Stupa Temple Relics next to the water.
Afternoon Dessert & Souvenir
After enjoying the sites and learning about the history, we headed over to the residential town area for an afternoon snack break. Ayutthaya has many traditional dessert house featuring royal theme recipes. With a hot day like this, we savor shaved ice with traditional Thai toppings at แป้งร่ำขนมไทย อยุธยา (Pangrum Thai Dessert). The toppings we picked were Lod Chong or the green strips and Tub Tim Krop or the ed rubies.
One of the must try, we picked up Roti Saimai, an iconic dessert of this region and packed it back as souvenir. You'll find that there are so many street vendors selling the Roti Saimai, so any of the vendor would be fine. If you do not plan to eat this within a few days, ask for the roti which has been pre-chilled. This dessert was brought in by the Muslim minority merchants settling in during the ancient trading days. Now it has become integrated into Thai Traditional desserts and celebrated across the country.
Supper by the River
We ended the day with a Chao Praya supper feast at Baan Mai Rim Num restaurant. The Giant River Prawns and various fish dishes are a must try when you visit the city. Pick a riverside restaurant to soak in the river view as you dine. Enjoy Grilled Seafood or Thai herbal aromatics with the Giant River Prawn Tom Yum Soup served in a Special Hotpot Ware which you can purchase at PandanMarket.com!
Sunset Train Ride Back to Bangkok
There were at least one train per hour heading back to Bangkok as the evening approaches. We bought our ticket and learned that there was an hour delay with the next scheduled train. Since it was already fully booked, we were told that there were no assigned seats and we might have to stand which we were fine with standing for an hour as long as we get back into the city on time for our special dinner plans.
Pro tip, if you're stuck for another hour like us, walk around the train station for more street food snack bites and enjoy the rural area vibe as you wait for the departing train in the station. By the time our train had arrived, the sun was setting, casting an orange glow as we jumped on the train and bid our farewell to the city. Till next time, Ayutthaya!
