Asian Geographic - 09.2018

PHOTOS © SHUTTERSTOCK

PHANTOMM / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Just north of Bangkok lies Ayuthaya Historical
Park, the site of the 14th-century Siamese
kingdom once declared to be the biggest and
wealthiest cities of the East. While it is long
past its heyday, the ruins of this structure
ofers a glimpse into its glorious past.

Wat Mahathat
(Monastery of the Great Relic)
Located in the centre of the park, this temple
is believed to have been constructed in 1374,
making it one of the oldest in the country.
It also houses one of the most iconic images
of hailand – a statue of a serene Buddha
partially swallowed by century old tree roots.

Wat Chaiwathanaram
Commissioned by King Prasat hong in 1630,
this temple was constructed in the traditional
Khmer style. Situated atop a rectangular
platform, it was built to symbolise the
worldview of Buddha.

THAILAND

Skyline Of

New & Old

Modern architecture oten draws lak for a

lack of character, but hailand manages to

incorporate a good dose of personality into

its skyline.

he Chang Building

Situated in the northern Bangkok district of

Chatuchak, this 32-loor building resembles a

gargantuan cuboid elephant. It pays homage to

the integral role of the elephant in hai culture

while being a playful addition to the cityscape.

MahaNakhon

he 77-loor building towers over the city and

is one of the tallest buildings in Southeast

Asia. Its design creates the optical illusion of

rippling metal, giving it a pixelated feel. As

an ode to modernity, this building is set to

become an iconic feature of hailand.

LEFT Mahanakhon

building in the central

business district of

Bangkok, Thailand

BELOW Wat

Chaiwatthanaram in

Ayutthaya Historical

Park

Bangkok isone of the most visited citiesinAsia:
itseamlessly combines thebustle of citty life
with the calm of sacred ruins

WHEN

Late November to

early December (ater

the monsoon season)

WHERE

Bangkok, Thailand

HOW

From Suvarnabhumi

International Airport,

take an airport taxi or

bus to the city. To get to

Ayutthaya, take a train

from Hualamphong

Station

EXPERIENCE

BANGKOK

THAILAND

Bangkok