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Ayutthaya
today, there are groups of crumbling ruins and rows of
headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived. The temple
compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a
visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn
to the relics of history.
The
architecture of
Ayutthaya
is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and
early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped obelisks, called
prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the
famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are
ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who had
limited their visit to
Bangkok
, similarities may be noted with the riverside Wat Arun, an
18th-century structure that was built in the so-called
Ayutthaya
style, a melding of Sukhothai Buddhist influences and
Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs.Source:Tourism
Authority of Thailand
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