t the height of the Siam Kingdom in the 17th century, Ayutthaya was the largest city in the world. The capital of Siam for just over four centuries, the city strategically stood at the confluence of three rivers, laid out in a systematic grid of roads, moats and canals. Ransacked by the Burmese in 1767, Ayutthaya is now a crumble of ruined monasteries, timeworn Buddhas and prang (temple) spires. Standing among it, you see enough surviving architecture to get an inkling of the city s past grandeur.Ayutthaya came to prominence just after the fall of Angkor, taking its place as Southeast Asia s hub of global diplomacy and commerce. The royal court at Ayutthaya regularly welcomed merchants and ambassadors from courts as diverse as the Palace of Versailles, and imperial Japan and China.Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins are slowly being embraced by the roots of jujube trees (a relative of the date tree, which Siam kings believed to be lucky). But, this isn t a desolate place. The Buddha statues are still draped in saffron robes, temple altars are bright with lotus flower offerings and monks grant blessings.The sheer, rosy brick ruins can look similar from afar and are best interpreted with the help of a guide. Archaeological research at the site has recorded 67 temples, which range from small piles of brick to Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, a monastic complex of temples whose main chedi (bell-shaped tower) dominates the skyline.