Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand Sep 9, 2023

When the sun sets over Thailand, the Wat Chaiwatthanaram Buddhist temple lights up to welcome the night at the Ayutthaya Historical Park. These ruins are evidence of the area"s rich history as the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which grew in power between the 14th and 18th centuries to rule Siam, or present-day Thailand. Around 1630, Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built on the orders of the dynasty"s King Prasat Thong, to symbolize the center of the universe and connote his aspiration to become the future Buddha.

© Weerasak Saeku/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

The other great barrier reef
10 Sep 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
10 Sep 2025Hay bales in North Yorkshire, England

More Desktop Wallpapers:

On the open ocean road
10 Jan 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee, Zermatt, Switzerland
Ablaze with colour
Sep 5, 2023Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
2 Mar 2026Harbour and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand
30 Apr 2026Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands
13 Aug 2024Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
7 Oct 2025Autumn colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
25 Oct 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
19 Jul 2025National Moth Week
Solo on the savanna
5 Nov 2023Guy Fawkes Night
22 May 2024International Day for Biological Diversity
14 Aug 2025Cable car station on Piz Nair mountain, Graubünden, Switzerland
Step back in time...
An underwater paradise
Sep 9, 2023Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
1 Nov 2024Vineyards in Varnhalt, Black Forest, Germany
Creating a better world
7 Oct 2024World Architecture Day
18 Mar 2026Pacific Rim Whale Festival
The sun sets on British Summer Time
12 Feb 2025Celebrating Charles Darwin
16 Apr 2025Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
Fragrant fields
4 Apr 2024Red lechwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana
19 Feb 2024Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
18 Apr 2026World Heritage Day
Protecting Earths biodiversity for everyone
24 Sep 2023World Rivers Day