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During Ayutthaya’s heyday, this was one of its most important temples with a large compound and a 151-ft (46-m) high laterite prang (tower), which has now collapsed. It remains one of the most evocative of all the city’s sights, with smaller prang leaning at precarious angles and a serene Buddha’s head encased by the roots of a banyan tree.

Most of Ayutthaya’s precious artifacts, including gold Buddha images, were either taken by the invading Burmese or looters. A few remaining items are on show here.

Next door to Wat Phra Mahathat and covering as large an area, this temple was built in 1424 by King Borommaracha II, and its main structure is a central, Khmer-style prang. In 1957, the crypt beneath the prang was opened by robbers, who made off with a horde of gold artifacts. The few items they did not take are now on display in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. The crypt can be reached by a steep staircase where there are beautiful Ayutthayan frescoes.

This study center attempts to depict the city’s history and trading relations, with models reproducing ships, houses, and other historical objects. It also houses a model of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the former temple of which little now remains.

Once Ayutthaya’s most glorious temple, all that is left of Wat Phra Si Sanphet today, are three Sri Lankan-style chedi (stupas) and the ruins of former palaces. The chedi contain ashes of Ayutthayan kings and are the park’s highlight.

One of the park’s less visited, yet most atmospheric temples has the ruins of an octagonal chedi, a wihan, and a fearsome singha .

The highlight of this temple is a huge, whitewashed Reclining Buddha exposed to the elements. Octagonal pillars around it once supported a wooden hall that sheltered the image.

Wat Phra Ram is one of Ayutthaya’s oldest temples. Originally built in 1369, the main prang, decorated with naga, garuda, and Buddha images, was added in the 15th century.

Built in the 15th century by King Boromatrailokanat, this royal palace had enough stable space for over 100 elephants. It was razed to the ground by the Burmese and today only the foundations are left.

This wihan (assembly hall) was built in the 1950s to shelter a massive bronze Buddha image that dates back to the 15th century and is over 40 ft (12 m) tall.