Part 2

The Ramayana, beyond India

By Himanshu and Arushi. Updated 4 November 2026. We visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok in July 2026.

A Thai city named after Ayodhya, a palace wall painted with 178 scenes, a Cambodian temple carved with the battle of Lanka, and dancers performing the story under Javanese temples. Here's the route, country by country.

The four stops

In the order of the reel. Thailand and Cambodia are close together; Java is a separate flight.

1. 1

   Thailand

   Ayutthaya

   Its name comes from Ayodhya. For over 400 years (1351 to 1767) it was the capital of Siam, until it was sacked. The ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   See

   • Wat Mahathat and the Buddha head held in tree roots
   • Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with its three tall chedis
   • Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the river, best at sunset
   • The giant reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutharam

   Get there

   About 80 km north of Bangkok. Trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal take about 1 to 1.5 hours; minivans and river cruises also run.

   Entry

   The big temples charge roughly 50 baht each; a combined ticket for several temples is sold on site.

   Best time

   November to February, when it's cooler and dry

   Time

   A full day trip from Bangkok

   Tip: at the Buddha head, crouch or kneel for photos so you're never higher than it. Hire a bicycle or a tuk-tuk to get between temples, and cover shoulders and knees.

2. 2

   Bangkok, Thailand

   Wat Phra Kaew & the Grand Palace

   The cloister around the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is painted with the Ramakien, Thailand's own Ramayana, in 178 scenes. The giant guardians at the gates are characters from the same story.

   See

   • The Ramakien murals running all the way around the cloister
   • The Emerald Buddha in the main hall (no photos inside)
   • The yaksha guardians and the golden Phra Si Rattana chedi
   • The Chakri Maha Prasat throne hall in the palace grounds

   Get there

   The Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang pier, or the MRT to Sanam Chai and a short walk

   Entry

   About 500 baht for foreigners. Tickets are sold roughly 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

   Dress

   Strict: shoulders and knees covered, nothing see-through. You'll be turned away otherwise.

   Time

   2 to 3 hours

   Tip: go at opening time. If anyone outside tells you the palace is "closed today" and offers a tuk-tuk tour instead, it's a well-known scam. Parts can close for royal ceremonies, so check the official site that morning.

3. 3

   Siem Reap, Cambodia

   Angkor Wat

   The biggest religious monument on earth, built in the 12th century for Vishnu. One gallery wall is a giant carving of the battle of Lanka, with Ram's monkey army fighting Ravan's demons.

   See

   • The Battle of Lanka relief, in the west gallery (northern half)
   • Sunrise over the towers from the lotus ponds
   • The Churning of the Ocean of Milk relief in the east gallery
   • Bayon's stone faces and Ta Prohm's tree roots nearby

   Get there

   Fly into Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, usually via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Buses from Bangkok take most of a day.

   Entry

   The Angkor Pass is about US$37 for 1 day, US$62 for 3 days and US$72 for 7 days. Buy it only from Angkor Enterprise, the official seller.

   Best time

   November to February, when it's dry and cooler

   Time

   2 to 3 days

   Tip: do sunrise, then walk the relief galleries before the midday heat. A guide for the galleries is worth it: the Lanka battle is easy to walk past if you don't know where Hanuman is.

4. 4

   Near Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

   Prambanan

   A 9th-century Hindu temple complex for Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The Ramayana is carved around the temple walls, and the Ramayana Ballet is danced with the lit temples behind the stage.

   See

   • The main Shiva temple, the tallest in the complex
   • The Ramayana relief panels around the Shiva and Brahma temples
   • The Ramayana Ballet in the evening
   • Sewu temple next door, and Ratu Boko for sunset

   Ballet

   Usually Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 pm: on the open-air stage in the dry season (roughly May to October) and the indoor Trimurti stage the rest of the year. Tickets run about IDR 150,000–450,000 depending on the seat. Check the official schedule first.

   Get there

   Fly to Yogyakarta (via Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta or Bali). Prambanan is about 17 km east of the city.

   Entry

   Foreign adults pay roughly US$25 for the temples. Check the official InJourney ticket site.

   Time

   An afternoon plus the evening show

   Tip: visit the temples late in the afternoon and stay on for the show. Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple, is about an hour and a half away and makes a perfect next morning.

Same story, different names

Listen for these at the murals, the reliefs and the ballet.

Thailand's version is the Ramakien and Cambodia's is the Reamker. In both, Hanuman is one of the biggest stars.

Plan the trip

Three countries, three sets of visa rules. Check each one before you book.