Ayutthaya Elephant

Elephant rides around the historic sites and ancient temples of Ayutthaya have always been popular with Thai and overseas tourists. The mahout and the elephant are both dressed up in attire from a bygone era when elephants were used to carry royalty and were also used in warfare. An iconic image of Ayutthaya, the elephants were unemployed for weeks due to the recent flooding. The water has now receded in the centre of Ayutthaya and with tourists drifting back to the town, the elephants can once again be seen ambling around the main temple area. Although full access to some temples may still be restricted until repairs are made, the elephants are a welcome sign that things are getting back to normal in Ayutthaya.

Please note I took this photo over a year ago, but similar scenes have been reported on local Thai television following the recent clean-up days that have taken place in Ayutthaya.

Photo © Thaizer