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

Sep 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
Sep 9, 2025Eurasian red squirrel
Sept 9, 2026Atlantic puffin in Elliston, Newfoundland, Canada

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 20, 2025Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Iceland
Aug 29, 2026Camí de Ronda, Lloret de Mar, Catalonia, Spain
Mar 1, 2026Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
June 3, 2026Bardenas Reales Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve, Navarra, Spain
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Jul 20, 2024The Moon
Oct 7, 2025Autumn colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
Jul 19, 2025Luna moth
Oct 13, 2025Waterfall at Wimbachklamm Gorge, Bavaria, Germany
Dec 10, 2025Castle of Rocca Calascio, Italy
Mar 4, 2026Purple crocus flowers, Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
Feb 4, 2024Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Jan 30, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
Mar 30, 2024Brown-throated three-toed sloth
Nov 27, 2024Tombeau du Géant in Bouillon, Belgium
Apr 21, 2025Joshua trees under the Milky Way, California, United States
Feb 9, 2024Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
Nov 1, 2025Bison, Yellowstone National Park
May 8, 2026Sardinian donkey mare and foal, France
May 5, 2025Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 26, 2024Northern hawk-owl
May 30, 2024Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Sept 20, 2026Eiffel Tower at sunset, Paris, France
Mar 23, 2025Lightning and storm clouds at sunset near Bowman, Nebraska, United States
Oct 3, 2024Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Jan 2, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, India
Jan 23, 2024Maldives
Nov 8, 2023West Indian manatee mother and baby
Mar 28, 2026African buffalo, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
May 6, 2025An ultralight aircraft flying over the sands of Namibia