Ayutthaya Historical Study Center (AHSC)

The Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre (AHSC) was established in 1986 by the Japanese grant aid projects to honour the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 60th Birthday Anniversary and also to commemorate the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the relationship between Japan and Thailand. The AHSC is a national research institute devoted to the study of Ayutthaya’s history. There are 2 exhibition buildings: one is in this building and the annex building was recently established within the Japanese Village vicinity near Wat Phanan Choeng in Tambon Ko Rian, along the east bank of the Chao Phraya River.
There are permanent exhibitions presented by state-of-the-art technology that help us easily understand the development of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the civilisation and strengths. Movable diagrams, maps, and models with sound effects encourage the audience to follow the lifestyles during the Ayutthaya period and the developments from the past to the present in a short period of time. This is an ideal starting point to learn about the former capital of Ayutthaya and will be an eye-opener when visiting the actual archaeological sites. The exhibition features exquisite models of the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the Chinese Trading Ship, and the waterfront community and the lifestyle of the people at that period.
There are four topics of the exhibition including Ayutthaya as the capital city, as the main port, as the centre of political power and dominance, and as representing the ancient Thai lifestyle. The descriptions are in Thai, English, and Japanese. The annex building located in Ko Rian sub-district on the east of the Chao Phraya River, now known as the Japanese Village, shows the foreign affairs between Ayutthaya and international countries.