Happy New Year 2017 to all my readers.

I finally had the chance to visit Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, after years of anticipation. I was eager to explore the temples, pay respects to the Buddha, and immerse myself in the historical grandeur of this once-great city.

Ayutthaya is a popular destination for those who enjoy temple hopping and making merit. During the New Year, Chinese New Year, and other auspicious occasions, the number of temple tours increases significantly.

Visiting nine temples in a single day can be tiring, and it's unlikely that you'll be able to complete all of them. To fully appreciate the experience, it's recommended to stay overnight in Ayutthaya and divide your temple visits into two days.

Taking this opportunity, I'd like to introduce you to the hotel where I stayed and a few of the temples I visited. Since I'm not a temple enthusiast, I won't be covering all nine. As those who know me are aware, I tend to feel overwhelmed when I'm in close proximity to temples.



Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya

Let's take a look at the map first.

The Kantary Hotel is located on the Asian Highway. Turn left at the intersection into the city, and it will be on your left, just past the Bangkok Bank. It's easy to find.

I have calculated the distances from the hotel to the various temples, most of which are also famous tourist attractions in the province.

As you can see, the temples we will be visiting are all located within a 10-kilometer radius, making it easy to visit all nine temples in a single day.

In addition to these, I recommend two other tourist attractions: Ayutthaya Floating Market and Krerk's Million Toy Museum. Please refer to the map for a better understanding of their locations.









At the outermost edge of the hotel entrance, bordering the road, there is this.

Kantary Cafe Open 8am-22pm

Indulge in delectable treats before checking in.



This cafe appears to be a popular spot for locals. During my visit, there was a steady stream of customers coming and going, using it as a meeting place. (The photo does not show people because I took it to avoid them, showing the spacious room and multiple tables.)




Let's look at the cake cabinet. Cake on the left, ice cream on the right.





Mouthwatering dishes, all of them.








Order from the menu and wait.




We ordered Matcha Bubble Parfait and Homemade Pancakes with Strawberry Crumble.


After checking in and leaving my luggage in my room, I headed straight to the first temple, Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan.

Only 4 kilometers from the hotel, a five-minute drive will get you there.

The majestic Luang Pho To at Wat Pnan Cherng. The ornate pillars inside the chapel are truly breathtaking.


Many people came to pay respects and offer saffron robes.




Phra Phutthathrai Ratnanyok, also known as Luang Pho To or Luang Pho Sam Pok Kong, is a 20-meter-wide and 19-meter-tall Buddha statue in the Mara-Vijaya attitude, seated in meditation posture.

In my childhood, my father said he would go to Yuthaya to pay respects at Wat Sampokong, which probably refers to this temple.




Return to Kantary.

Enjoy the welcome drink and then head to your room.

The Cantare Ayutthaya offers three types of rooms: Studio Suite, One Bedroom Suite, and Two Bedroom Suite. The Studio Suite is suitable for two guests and has an area of 46 square meters. The One Bedroom Suite is also suitable for two guests but is almost twice the size of the Studio Suite, with an area of 74 square meters. It also offers more amenities.

The Two Bedroom Suite is ideal for small families.


Enter the room.

One-Bedroom Suite

Walking to the balcony to admire the view through the window, I found myself facing west. In the distance, approximately 1.5 kilometers away, the spire of Wat Yai Chaimongkol could be seen. Following the road, the distance would be around 3 kilometers, as indicated on the map.

Tomorrow morning, we will visit this temple and pay our respects to the Buddha.


The One Bedroom Suite features a distinct layout with a separate bedroom, a living room with a dining area, and a bathroom accessible from both the bedroom and the living room.

The living room corner is stylishly decorated. I like the C-frame wooden frame like this. It's cool. There are widescreen TVs in both the living room and bedroom. There is also a DVD player. Prepare your favorite songs to plug in.


The WiFi signal is strong and reliable, and there is also a LAN cable. This photo shows the connection between the bedroom and the living room.

Bedroom


The bedroom is on the right, and the bathroom is on the left. The bathroom has two entrances.

The room is fully equipped with all the amenities you need for a comfortable long stay, including:

The hotel offers a fully equipped kitchen with a gas stove, pot, kettle, toaster, washing machine, large refrigerator, sink, and dish drainer. This is because many long-term guests stay at the hotel. Ayutthaya is not only a province with many tourist attractions but also a province with a lot of industrial businesses. The hotel's full name is

KANTARY HOTEL AYUTTHAYA Hotel & Serviced Apartments




Bathroom with shower, bathtub, and toilet with bidet spray.

Let's take a look at the hotel's swimming pool. Located on one of the upper floors, the pool features a whirlpool section in the left corner.




The fitness center is located on the same floor as the swimming pool.



In the evening, you can leave your food containers at the hotel. However, if you are feeling energetic, you can walk outside the hotel. Turn right for a 7-Eleven, or turn left for several restaurants. However, the walk is a bit long, about half a kilometer.

In addition to the Kantary Cafe located at the front of the hotel on the main road, the Kantary Ayutthaya also has a restaurant called

California Steakhouse Restaurants

Open 6am - midnight





The steak is probably famous and uses imported ingredients, but we prefer Thai food. So we ordered only Thai dishes, and two or three dishes were enough to fill us up.




After a restful night's sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed and headed down to California Steak for breakfast, the same restaurant I had dinner at the night before. I simply gave the staff my room number at the entrance.

The food selection is diverse, offering both Thai and Western options, meeting the expected standards. Personally, I find the breakfast congee to be a daily favorite. The congee station offers a wide variety of toppings to choose from.

This morning, we continued our temple tour, with our next stop being the one visible directly from our hotel balcony.

Wat Yai Chaimongkol

This temple is an ancient site. The large pagoda of this temple is said to have been renovated during the reign of King Naresuan the Great.

In the tranquil stillness of the early morning, I find myself drawn to this ancient site, a majestic testament to a glorious past. This sprawling complex, once the epicenter of prosperity centuries ago, now stands as a silent sentinel, its grandeur echoing through the ages.


Leaving the main temple, we crossed the street to the opposite side.

Wat Mahaeyong

I have long wanted to come here because I have seen photos of people circling the candles here on Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, and Asalha Bucha Day. The images from various media are very beautiful.

I have always wanted to see it with my own eyes, and now my wish has come true.





If you're feeling hot and hungry, I recommend taking a break from the sun and enjoying a meal at a small restaurant with a beautiful view of the Pa Sak River. The boat noodle shop at Wat Kluai is a great option.

I did not map Wat Kluai, but I have included a link to its location here: https://goo.gl/5340YA. It is easy to find, as Wat Kluai is located on the riverside road opposite Ko Ayutthaya and near the underpass beneath the Predi Banomyong Bridge.

Besides boat noodles, there are also delicious cup cakes.

Return to Kantarat Ayutthaya.

Before checking out, let's take a look at the remaining 2 types of rooms, starting with the smallest and most affordable option.

Studio Suite

Usable area 46 sq m.

Modern style with balcony



The room features a corner desk by the window, adjacent to a living area with a widescreen TV that can be comfortably viewed from both the sofa and the bed without straining your neck. A stereo DVD player is also provided.



The kitchen is fully equipped, just like the other rooms, with a large refrigerator, tea and coffee maker. A washing machine is available upon request for long-stay guests.

The bathroom features a bathtub and a shower stall.

Full WiFi and LAN coverage.


Living area



A small dining area.





Here's another type, the last one.

Two-Bedroom Suite

This spacious room offers 105 square meters of living space, divided into two bedrooms and a living room. It is the largest room type available at the Kantary Ayutthaya Hotel and includes all the amenities found in the smaller room types, with the added benefit of more spacious bedrooms and a larger living room. This room type is ideal for families or groups of four friends who want to share a room. The living room provides a great space for socializing, while the kitchen and dining table offer the opportunity to cook and eat together. The possibilities are endless!




The kitchen is clearly separated as a kitchen, the dining area is also well-proportioned, and the living area is spacious with a balcony.




Master bedroom



Secondary bedroom




Okay, it's time to check out






A relaxing 2-day, 1-night trip to Ayutthaya, visiting temples and sightseeing.

On the way back, we stopped at one more temple. We actually wanted to visit all nine temples, but the sky looked like it was going to rain heavily, and it also made the air more humid. So we only stopped at four temples.

Wat Mahathat
Located within the Ayutthaya Historical Park, the sound of this song immediately echoes in my head.
Ayutthaya, our old city in the past,
My heart yearns to tell you a story.
Ayutthaya, in the past, was still
A golden city of our Thai brothers and sisters.

I have long wanted to see the Buddha's head engulfed by the tree roots. This trip has fulfilled many of my wishes.

As I continued my walk, the rain began to steadily approach. Here is a final image before departing Ayutthaya.

Thank you for following our accommodation review. In the next episode, I will take you to Somewhere Koh Sichang, a lovely and sweet accommodation with a full range of photo spots around the island.

# Ayutthaya
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