Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Ayutthaya
Originally built in 1448 as the king's private chapel (the equivalent of the Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok), Sri Sanphet is just south of the raised Grand Palace area.
The buildings were renovated in the 16th and 17th centuries. The 17m (55-ft.) bronze standing Buddha was originally cast and covered in gold in 1500 during the reign of the ninth king, Ramathipodi.
In 1767, the invading Burmese tried to melt the gold off the Buddha statue, causing a fire that destroyed both the image and the temple. The Buddha you see today is a replica.
Nearby are three Sri Lankan-style chedis, built during the 15th century to enshrine the ashes of three Ayutthaya kings.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Just south of the Grand Palace ruin in the northwest end of the island |
| Cost: | 30B (75¢) |
- Frommer's Thailand, 6th edition.
