A Visit to Chainat and Ayutthaya Provinces with Overnight at Chaophayathara Riverside Hotel in Chainat province
Ayutthaya was the capital city of Siam during the years 1350 to 1767, and is about 80 km north of Bangkok. The golden age of Ayutthaya was during the 18th century when art, literature, and learning flourished. The core of the ancient capital was a four kilometre wide island at the confluence of the Lopburi, Pasak, and Chao Phraya rivers. The capital was once bounded by a twelve-kilometre wall. The ruins of the historic city form Ayutthaya Historical Park which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In 1767, this 400-year golden age of stability and prosperity came to an abrupt end. After over two centuries of recurring tensions, the Burmese captured and ravaged Ayutthaya, taking tens of thousands of prisoners back to Burma with them. With even the wats in ruins, the city had to be abandoned to the jungle. Ayutthaya is a promising destination for a short escape from Bangkok to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, beautiful ancient architecture, good museums, and amazing sites. There are nearly 100 ancient sites in this old city.
Chainat is a small agriculture town in central Thailand located on the river plain where the Chao Phraya, Tha Chin, and Noi rivers meet. This fertile land was perfectly suitable for settlement. The town has a glorious past as it was an important town and strategy location before entering to Ayutthaya. Its location also placed it right at the centre of the territorial conflict as Ayutthaya challenged the power of the Sukhothai kingdom. The scenery around Chainat is typical of the central plain – lush rice fields crisscrossed by a network of canal. The town was an important trading centre in the heyday of fluvial transport for many centuries, but decline set in as roads were built. The ruins of old temples, and local archaeological remains attest to its past political importance in the rivalry between the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya kingdoms, and as a cultural and artistic centre when Dvaravati and U-Thong art as well as Sukhothai and Ayutthaya influences found in these sites. Today, Chainat is a small town and does not have many visitors. The museum presents artefacts from the Chainat region, religious art ranging from votive tablets to Buddha images in various styles, ceramics of Lopburi, Ayutthaya, Bangkok periods, and some fragments of the Wheels of the Law, stone bells found in Chainat.
Under the leadership of Khun Euayporn Kerdchouay, The Siam Society will arrange a study trip for members to visit museums and many historical sites in Chainat and Ayutthaya provinces. The group will leave The Siam Society by bus on Saturday, 8 August 2020 at 07:30 and we expect to return to the Society on Sunday, 9 August 2020 at 20:30. The group will be limited to 20 persons.
In Chainat, we will spend a night at Chaophayathara Riverside Hotel. Located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River
When
Leader
Mr Euayporn Kerdchouay, Senior Consultant of The Siam Society
Booking
Or contact Khun Supanut
supanut@thesiamsociety.org
The tentative programme will be as follows:
Day 1: Saturday, 8 August | |
07:30 | Depart The Siam Society for Chainat province by bus. |
– | Arrive in Chainat province, visit Chainatmuni National Museum and visit many Heritage sites in Chainat province. |
– | Lunch and dinner in Chainat. |
Evening: | Overnight at Chaophayathara Riverside Hotel in Chainat province. |
Day 2: Sunday, 9 August | |
Morning: | Breakfast at the hotel. |
08:00 | Proceed to Ayutthaya province by bus. |
– | Arrive in Ayutthaya, visit Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, and visit many Heritage sites in Ayutthaya. Lunch at a local restaurant in Ayutthaya |
Late afternoon: | Depart Ayutthaya for Bangkok. |
– | (Snack available on the bus.) |
20:30 | Arrive at The Siam Society. |
Booking
Note – To comply with the measures recommended by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking appropriate precautions. The Society kindly ask our participants to follow the safety and precaution measures that have been declared by the government and health organisations.
The contribution of THB 8,500 (THB 9,500 for non-members), Single room surcharge THB 600. will cover transportation as mentioned in the programme, accommodation for 1 night (two persons per room), meals, gratuities and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. It also includes basic travel insurance for the benefit of each participant. The Society makes no representation about such insurance and recommends that you obtain sufficient additional insurance to more fully cover you for all risks, if you do not already have it. Each participant will be required to sign the Society’s standard release and indemnity form before embarking. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges. Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society”. Alternatively, you can transfer the money to The Siam Society travel account at TMB Bank, Asoke Branch, saving account no. 053-2-18000-7. Please fax or e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us.
For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert at Tel. 02-661-6470-3 ext. 504 or Khun Supanut Tel. 02-661-6470-3 ext. 506, Fax 02-258-3491 or email: supanut@thesiamsociety.org. The Society office is open from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday
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