Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Flora

 Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is shown in the Fra Mauro map of the world (approximately 1450 CE, with south at the top) under the name "Scierno", derived from the Persian "Shahr-i Naw", meaning "New City"

 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya commonly known locally as Ayutthaya, is the capital of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province in Thailand. It lies on an island at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers. Ayutthaya was the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and, between the 14th and 18th centuries, grew into one of the world's largest cities and a major hub of diplomacy and commerce, before its destruction during the Burmese invasion of 1767. Today, Ayutthaya is a major centre of cultural tourism, while the surrounding area forms part of Thailand's industrial and transport corridor north of Bangkok; its historic core is protected as the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city is located about 40 miles (64 km) north of Bangkok, at the confluence of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers, and on the main north–south railway linking Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The old city is on an island formed by a bend of the Chao Phraya on the west and south sides, the Pa Sak on the east side and the Klong Muang canal on the northern side.

Urban Planning and Canal System

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Simon de la Loubère's 1691 map of Ayutthaya

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Ayutthaya is geographically characterized as an island city surrounded by three major rivers: the Lopburi River to the north, the Pa Sak River to the east, and the Chao Phraya River to the south and west. The city's layout demonstrates sophisticated hydraulic engineering and urban planning, featuring an extensive network of man-made canals excavated for transportation, flood drainage, and domestic water supply. According to UNESCO, Ayutthaya was characterized by a systematic city-planning grid of roads, canals, and moats, supported by an extremely advanced hydraulic water-management system during the Ayutthaya period. During this period, the city was sometimes known as the "Venice of the East".

Other tourism sites

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• Wang Luang
• Wat Suwan Dararam Ratchaworawihan
• St. Joseph's Church
• Baan Hollanda
• Japanese Village

The Ayutthaya Night Market offers a plethora of shopping opportunities, including a wide variety of food, clothing, and handicrafts. Visitors can enjoy traditional Thai dishes such as pad Thai, mango sticky rice, and tom yum soup, as well as a range of international cuisine. The market is also famous for its impressive array of souvenirs, including handmade bags, jewelry, and textiles. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, with street performers, music, and colorful lights adding to the festive ambiance.

Khlong Sabua is a floating market in Ayutthaya; it is more popular with Thai tourists than foreign travellers. The main attraction is a Water Theatre featuring live performances of Thai folk tales and musicals

Ayutthaya Historical Park (Thai: อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์พระนครศรีอยุธยา(Pronunciation)) covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand. The city of Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi Iin 1351,^[a] though it is likely to be significantly older, based on evidence showing that the area was already populated during the Mon Dvaravati period. Sources further mention that around 850 AD, the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold there, naming it Ayodhya, after one of the holiest Hindu cities in India of the same name. The early history of Ayutthaya is connected to this Khmer settlement.Additionally, Prince Damrong has also attested to the existence of a city named Ayodhya, founded by the Khmers ruling from Lopburi at the point where the three rivers meet.An excavation map shows traces of an ancient baray (water reservoir) close to the southwestern tip of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, which could have been built on a former important Khmer temple complex.

Altar in Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Gesneriaceae 

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province in central Thailand features flat, low river plains rather than the rocky, shaded, or limestone-rich mountainous habitats where wild Gesneriaceae (the African violet or Cha-ru-sifamily) typically thrive natively in Thailand. Botanical records for the region indicate that wild native species from this family are virtually absent locally, though historical specimen collections from the Central region do note occasional lowland or widespread general herbs like Microchirita rupestris historically mapped across central areas including Ayutthaya. 

Botanical Context in the Central Region

Habitat Mismatch: Most Thai Gesneriaceae (such as Microchirita, Paraboea, and Chayamaritia species) are lithophytes or epiphytes tied to moist limestone karsts in the North, Northeast, and West (e.g., Saraburi or Lopburi). 
Lowland Plains: Ayutthaya's delta landscape defined by the Chao Phraya river basin lacks these specialized rock microclimates. 
Horticultural Presence: Any Gesneriaceae found within Ayutthaya today consist exclusively of cultivated ornamental exotic hybrids (like African violets or Aeschynanthus) grown in private gardens or nurseries rather than wild native flora.

🔄 to know Gesneriaceae

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The district is divided into 21 sub-districts (tambon). In addition to the city (thesaban nakhon) of Ayutthaya there are other municipal areas. Ayothaya is a town (thesaban mueang) which covers part of the tambons Phai Ling, Hantra, and Khlong Suan Phlu.

No.	Name	Thai	Pop.
1.	Pratu Chai	ประตูชัย	16,155
2.	Kamang	กะมัง	1,458
3.	Ho Rattanachai	หอรัตนไชย	11,671
4.	Hua Ro	หัวรอ	12,427
5.	Tha Wasukri	ท่าวาสุกรี	8,756
6.	Phai Ling	ไผ่ลิง	15,232
7.	Pak Kran	ปากกราน	5,526
8.	Phukhao Thong	ภูเขาทอง	2,748
9.	Samphao Lom	สำเภาล่ม	6,368
10.	Suan Phrik	สวนพริก	3,941
11.	Khlong Takhian	คลองตะเคียน	4,798
12.	Wat Tum	วัดตูม	4,219
13.	Hantra	หันตรา	7,261
14.	Lumphli	ลุมพลี	5,083
15.	Ban Mai	บ้านใหม่	4,415
16.	Ban Ko	บ้านเกาะ	4,892
17.	Khlong Suan Phlu	คลองสวนพลู	6,605
18.	Khlong Sa Bua	คลองสระบัว	4,380
19.	Ko Rian	เกาะเรียน	2,619
20.	Ban Pom	บ้านป้อม	6,504
21.	Ban Run	บ้านรุน	1,409