Phom Phet Fortress
Historic City of Ayutthaya, Thailand
Your base for this sight is the Unesco World Heritage City of Ayutthaya. For travel information on Ayutthaya, read the AsiaExplorers Ayutthaya Travel Guide. For day trips to Ayutthaya, use Bangkok as your base. Read the Bangkok Travel Guide for more information.
The original wall around Ayutthaya was only of earth with log fences. During King Chakrapat's reign (refer to History of Ayutthaya), this was extended to the river banks, and strengthened into fortresses and walls of brick and plaster.
The remains of the old Phet Fortress.
Phom Phet, on the southeast corner of Ayutthaya island, is the only remnant of the old fort. No foreign ships travelling up the Chao Phraya river were allowed beyond this point.
The elephant kraal of Ayutthaya is the only one left in Thailand. Located to the north of the Ayutthaya island, this kraal dates back to the 16th century, when King Maha Thammaracha (1569-1590) moved it here. That was the time when elephants were not only caught and trained for work, but also for a strong army. However, the last roundup of wild elephants in Thailand happened a long time ago, back in 1903. Nevertheless the elephant kraal is preserved for posterity, to showcase to visitors how it was like a long time ago.
The view from Phet Fortress where the Pasak River, left, flows into the Chao Phraya River.
Ayutthaya Travel Guide
Useful information on the ruins and tourist attractions in Ayutthaya
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