Ayutthaya Historical Park

In a warm, sunny land, rivers hug me like a cozy blanket, making me feel like my own special island. My towers are made of quiet, red bricks that have seen many sunrises. Big stone statues of friendly faces sit peacefully, and if you look very closely, you can see one special head being gently held by the roots of a big, old tree. The tree is giving it a forever hug. I am a place full of sleepy secrets and sunshine. I am the Ayutthaya Historical Park in sunny Thailand.

I was born a very long time ago, in the year 1351. A kind king named Uthong decided to build a beautiful city right here. He stacked stone upon stone and brick upon brick to make me strong. For hundreds of years, I was a happy and busy home. Kings and queens in shiny clothes walked through my gardens. Big boats filled with yummy fruits and colorful fabrics floated on my rivers, saying hello to everyone they passed. People built tall, pointy temples called 'prangs' that reached up high to tickle the clouds. I loved the sound of happy voices and busy feet.

After a long, long time, my busy days ended. The city grew quiet, and my beautiful buildings fell asleep. They rested for many years. But my story wasn't over. On December 13th, 1991, something wonderful happened. People from all over the world said I was a special treasure, a place for everyone to love and protect. Now, children come to visit me. They run on the soft grass where kings once walked and play hide-and-seek behind my sleepy stones. I love to whisper my old stories to them on the wind.