Ayutthaya, Thailand's Ancient Capital

Ayutthaya lies about a two hour's drive north of Bangkok. It was Thailand's capital for approximately four hundred years. It was burned by Burmese invaders, which resulted in its abandonment and the establishment of Bangkok which remains Thailand's current capital. Current-day Ayutthaya holds the Thai king's summer palace which is used for official events, including hosting foreign dignitaries. Ayutthaya is also the home to numerous ancient Buddhist stupas and pagodas. Many of them resemble Cambodia's Angkor Wat temples, and whose construction dates from the same time frame, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.