Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand Sep. 9, 2023

When the sunset casts its spell over Thailand, the Wat Chaiwatthanaram Buddhist temple lights up to welcome the night at the Ayutthaya Historical Park. Even though the temple is not part of the nearby Historic City of Ayutthaya (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the ruin is just as divine, exhibiting meticulous details of rich history and architecture. King Prasat Thong—from the dynasty of the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom that ruled Southeast Asia between the 14th and 18th centuries—built the sanctuary to symbolise the centre of the universe and connote his aspiration to become the future Buddha. From the Buddhist temple, the Historic City of Ayutthaya can be reached by boat or road. Three rivers link the once-metropolitan city of the Siamese Kingdom to the sea. Now a historical ruin, Ayutthaya was an important point of commerce and diplomacy, with the advantages of the surrounding rivers serving as natural defence.

© Weerasak Saeku/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Roll out the red carpet
Sep. 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
Sep. 9, 2025A female Eurasian red squirrel, Switzerland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan. 9, 2026Muir Woods National Monument, California, United States
Nov. 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta
Oct. 25, 2024Frankenstein Friday
Colours of Colorado
Dare to tread through the fairy flower?
Oct. 14, 2025Village of Oia in Santorini, Greece
May 23, 2025World Turtle Day
Apr. 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
Oct. 18, 2025International Archaeology Day
Jun. 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Dec. 12, 2023Poinsettia Day
Roll out the red carpet
Dec. 1, 2024Antarctica Day
Mar. 14, 2025Celebrating Pi Day
Feb. 23, 2025Mount Fuji Day
Jul. 22, 2025Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Apr. 6, 2024Japan Castle Day
Nov. 29, 2023Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree lighting
Oct. 20, 2024International Sloth Day
Oct. 30, 2023Common raven
Where the rainbow ends
The beauty that lies below
May 17, 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
Wind-powered ice racing
Oct. 18, 2024Jasper Dark Sky Festival, Alberta
Oct. 29, 2024Great horned owl
Dec. 22, 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye
Jun. 8, 2024Canadian Grand Prix 2024
Jul. 29, 2025International Tiger Day