The Historic City of Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ayutthaya, Thailand’s second capital founded around 1350, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 for its archaeological ruins and unique urban design.
The Historic City of Ayutthaya received UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1991 as one of Thailand’s first inscribed properties. Founded around 1350, it served as Thailand’s second capital after Sukhothai and became an important center of global diplomacy and commerce. The site today comprises archaeological ruins featuring tall prang (reliquary towers) and monumental Buddhist monasteries, reflecting the city’s former architectural grandeur. Its significance also lies in its innovative urban planning, including a systematic grid layout and a hydraulic water-management system considered technologically unique for its time.