BY BRENNA HOLLAND
Ayutthaya, Thailand
An island sitting at the confluence of
three rivers—the Chao Phraya, the
Lopburi and the Pa Sak—this former
capital of Siam was the largest trading
hub in Asia and arguably the world for
centuries. The island marks the ideal
location for shipping between China,
India and the Malay Archipelago.
Established in 1350, Ayutthaya grew to
be the largest city in the world with one
million inhabitants by the year 1700.
Today, the island is inhabited by the
remains of a formerly great city. Visitors
travel by ferry to see Ayutthaya's stone
temples, palaces, the prang (reliquary
towers) and several large monasteries.
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