Thailand

Central Thailand / Ayutthaya / Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This Wat was the most important temple within the Royal Palace compound, comparable to the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok's Grand Palace compound. In 1500, a 16m (52ft) high standing Buddha image was cast by King Ramatipodi II for this Wat. The image was covered with gold weighing some 170kg (374lbs). In 1767, the Burmese set fire to the temple to melt the gold off the image, completely destroying the image and the temple.

Nearby are three Ceylonese-style Chedis built during the 15th century to enshrine the ashes of three Ayutthayan kings. These were renovated in 1956.