Ayutthaya Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for 417 years, a river city that traded with China, Japan, Persia and Europe and was said to rival the great cities of its time. When the Burmese burned it in 1767, the kingdom rebuilt itself further south, in what became Bangkok.
This guide covers what makes Ayutthaya different from other old capitals: the key dates of its history, its main districts, the festivals worth planning around and the local products its makers sell. For local producers, there is also a word on finding customers outside Ayutthaya.
Ayutthaya
Siam's Capital for 417 Years
An island city ringed by three rivers, once one of the great trading capitals of Asia, and today a UNESCO World Heritage site an hour from Bangkok.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Ayutthaya
What the province is known for. Local producers are joining SnapSellGo now.
The "Known for" cards describe what Ayutthaya is famous for; real listings take their place as soon as producers publish.
Why Ayutthaya is more than a day of ruins
The province's full name is Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and its old city sits on an island where the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers meet. Those rivers made it a trading hub for four centuries, and they still make it one of Thailand's great rice-farming areas.
The ruins inside the island became a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 1991. Around them live descendants of the traders who once filled the city, from the Muslim families who make roti sai mai to the villages that forge Aranyik knives.
A UNESCO island city
Ayutthaya Historical Park has been on the World Heritage list since December 1991.
Three rivers
The Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers surround the old city and water its rice fields.
A trading capital
Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and Persian communities once lived around the island.
A royal summer palace
Bang Pa-in Palace, south of the city, mixes Thai, Chinese and European styles.
A short history of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya's four centuries as capital shaped the Thai state, its court language and its diplomacy. Its fall shaped everything that came after.
- 1350King U Thong, later Ramathibodi I, founds Ayutthaya on its river island.
- 1438The Sukhothai kingdom is absorbed into Ayutthaya's realm.
- 1500s–1600sPortuguese, Dutch, Japanese and Persian traders settle in villages around the island.
- 1630King Prasat Thong begins Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the west bank of the river.
- 1767After a long siege, Burmese forces capture and burn the city, ending 417 years as capital.
- 1991Ayutthaya Historical Park is added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in December.
- 2011Severe floods submerge much of the province, including its industrial estates.
Where to go in Ayutthaya: the main districts
Ayutthaya has 16 districts and about 823,000 residents (2024). The capital lies 76 km north of Bangkok. These are the districts most visitors and buyers deal with.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya | The old island city, the historical park, Wat Mahathat and the night market. |
| Bang Pa-in | The royal summer palace and the industrial estates along the river. |
| Bang Sai | The Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Centre, a royal project training village artisans. |
| Nakhon Luang | Ban Aranyik, the blacksmith village famous for its knives. |
| Bang Pahan and Uthai | Rice farms and river villages on the edge of the old capital. |
Festivals, seasons and the best time to visit
Ayutthaya's big events follow the river and the ruins. Mark these in your diary.
What Ayutthaya makes: local products and OTOP
Thailand's OTOP programme, One Tambon One Product, pins each product to its home sub-district, and Ayutthaya's list is a mix of river food and royal craft. The city is known for grilled giant river prawns and for roti sai mai, thin pancakes wrapped around threads of spun sugar, sold by Muslim families near the hospital.
In Nakhon Luang district, the blacksmiths of Ban Aranyik forge knives and farm tools, and in Bang Sai the royal Arts and Crafts Centre trains weavers, woodcarvers and basket makers from across the country.
As Ayutthaya producers join SnapSellGo, their products show up in the carousel above. There is no commission to pay, just an annual fee for the shop.
Short on time? Wat Mahathat, Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset, then river prawns. Into history? Bang Pa-in Palace and the old foreign villages. Visiting in December? The World Heritage Fair. Buying local? Roti sai mai and an Aranyik knife.
Questions people ask about Ayutthaya
Why is Ayutthaya famous?
Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for 417 years, from 1350 to 1767. Its ruins form a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is known for Bang Pa-in Palace, river prawns and roti sai mai.
When was Ayutthaya destroyed?
Burmese forces captured and burned Ayutthaya in 1767, after a long siege. The capital then moved to Thonburi and, in 1782, to Bangkok.
How far is Ayutthaya from Bangkok?
The city of Ayutthaya lies about 76 km north of Bangkok, easily reached by road, train or boat.
What is roti sai mai?
A thin pancake wrapped around threads of spun sugar, an Ayutthaya speciality sold by the city's Muslim families.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Wat Chaiwatthanaram; UNESCO World Heritage list. Population: 2024 registration data. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year. Cover photo: Wat Chaiwatthanaram by Evilarry, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.