Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya

This was the grandest temple of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and part of the royal palace complex. It served as the royal chapel, similar to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. No monks lived here; it was used exclusively for royal ceremonies. The temple is most recognizable by its three large bell-shaped chedis, which housed the ashes of three kings. Much of the complex was destroyed in 1767, but the chedis have been restored and remain one of Ayutthaya’s most iconic landmarks. The temple’s layout reveals the scale and opulence of Ayutthaya’s former glory.