Ayutthaya Historical Park Taking Shape

Ayutthaya Historical Park taking shape

By Pakamard Jaichalard

The Nation

AYUTTHAYA: -- Vigorous efforts are now up and running to recreate the core zone of the once-splendid capital of Ayutthaya in 3D models and animation.

"We have already recreated six temples in pictures," Fine Arts Department director-general Grienggrai Sampatchalit said yesterday.

He was speaking after attending a ceremony to worship late Thai kings at the Ayutthaya Historical Park.

The ancient complex at Ayutthaya is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

PTT Exploration and Production has provided more than Bt68 million for the project to conserve the complex in honour of His Majesty the King.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has been the chief adviser to this project.

Grienggrai said officials would develop the pictures and models for the reconstruction, based on the ancient remains.

"Once the project is completed, visitors will be able to see the models that will depict clearly where each structure was located in the old days," he said.

Grienggrai added that animation would also be produced and kept for study purposes at learning centres.

Methadon Wijakkhana, who heads the Ayutthaya Historical Park, said the models would be very close to what stood in Ayutthaya centuries ago.

"This is because we have developed the models not just from historical remains but also from old documents," he said.

Methadon pointed out that photos taken in the reign of King Rama V could be used to develop the model for Wat Mahathat. He added that there was also an old map prepared by Dutchmen.

"This is the first time innovative technology has been used at the Ayutthaya Historical Park," he said.

He believed the project would boost the number of visitors to the park. Once completed, the pictures and models will be put right next to the historical remains so that visitors have a clearer idea of what Ayutthaya looked like in the past.

Currently, the Ayutthaya Historical Park attracts 1.2 million tourists from about 90 countries annually. Of them, about 60 per cent are from Europe.

-- The Nation 2010-02-05

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