New life for old Ayutthaya
The TV series 'Love Destiny' has renewed Thais' interest in the former Siamese capital
MINGLING ROMANCE, fantasy and history,
Channel 3’s hit comedy series “Buppesannivas” (“Love Destiny”) has
managed to bring classical Ayutthaya back to life. True fans are
flocking to the old capital of Siam to dress in elegant period costumes
and pose for pictures among the ruined temples and palaces of Ayutthaya
Historical Park.
Fans of the television series can easily imagine Khun Sri Wisanwacha and Karaked paddling in a boat to the market.
The government’s Fine Arts Department recently organised a one-day tour
for public and a media mob to the site in a bid to get folks better
informed about the long history resting silently in its stones.
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“‘Buppesannivas’ has inspired many more people to visit Ayutthaya,”
said Anandha Chuchoti, the department’s director general. “Wat
Chaiwatthanaram, for example, which is one of the main locations seen in
the TV series, welcomed more than 30,000 tourists within three weeks of
the show going on air.”
The department is developing a map of the key sites used in the TV show
and incorporating QR codes that visitors can scan as they follow a
designated route. Guides are also on hand to explain the architecture
and describe the way of life hundreds of years ago.
“And next month we’re hosting a one-day excursion from Ayutthaya to Lop
Buri to showcase the beauty of both cities during the reign of King
Narai,” Anandha said.
Towering Petch Fortress is another point of keen interest, sitting at
the convergence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers. King
Mahadhammaraja erected it in 1580, with eight apertures left in the
brickwork for cannon. Here, merchants from China, Portugal, Japan,
England and France once gathered.
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Ayutthaya was known as “the Venice of the East” long before Bangkok
inherited the description, said archaeologist Pathravadee Deesomchoke,
who’s in charge of the department’s local operations.
“The old capital was completely surrounded by rivers and moats, making
it an easily defended island. There were also 16 fortresses, and King
Narai allowed only the Chinese and Persians to settle downtown.”
Pathravadee described the flourishing trade of 300 years ago. Diplomats were sent to France and Western innovations were adopted, such as using bricks and cement in construction rather than clay.
“Ayutthaya had many markets, both on land and in the waterways, each one specialising in a certain kind of merchandise. Talad Pa Lueng sold monks’ robes and Talad Chee Kun was where you bought jewellery.”
She pointed out that Bangkok’s original defensive walls were built with bricks salvaged from the ruins of Ayutthaya during the reigns of the first three Chakri kings. “So the Fine Arts Department has had to add new bricks to the ruins here to maintain their structural strength.”
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Pathravadee described the flourishing trade of 300 years ago. Diplomats were sent to France and Western innovations were adopted, such as using bricks and cement in construction rather than clay.
“Ayutthaya had many markets, both on land and in the waterways, each one specialising in a certain kind of merchandise. Talad Pa Lueng sold monks’ robes and Talad Chee Kun was where you bought jewellery.”
She pointed out that Bangkok’s original defensive walls were built with bricks salvaged from the ruins of Ayutthaya during the reigns of the first three Chakri kings. “So the Fine Arts Department has had to add new bricks to the ruins here to maintain their structural strength.”
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