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Wat Phra Si Sanphet: This important and outstanding monastery is located in the grand palace compound, like Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram (Wat Phra Kaew) of Bangkok. It was used as a residential palace in the reign of King Ramathibodi I. When King Borom Trai Lokkanart commanded that new living quarters be built, this residential palace was dedicated as the royal chapel, originally Wat Phra Si Sanphet: the royal chapel was without monks and novice inhabitants.

The best view of the chedi in Ayuttaya.

Three very old chedis in a row which has had the top rebuilt already. Picture on the right is showing the chedi which is very tall and old. If you have seen the movie "Mortal Kombat, you might recognise these pictures. The movie was made here in Thailand.

The three chedis from each end. On the left are the remains of the Prasat Phra Narai and on the right is Wihan Phra Si Sanphet.

Buddha with the head cut off same as at Wat Mahathat and a Big Buddha on the right has had head cut off as well. This shows us that nearly every old temple here doesn't have a Buddha's head. Not even very big heads of the Buddha. The cloth put around the shoulder was put put there by people paying respect to the Buddha. If a museum in your country has one of the heads of a Buddha from Thailand, please ask them to return them to us.

The temple was burned down by the Burmese in 1767. Today there isn't much left. People are walking around with an umbrella and a cap because the weather is very hot and the sun is strong. You can walk without them but you might get sunburned!!

Copyright information: All pictures by Nattawud Daoruang. Information from brochures obtained at location. Additional information by Richard Barrow and Nattawud Daoruang.

RELATED LINKS: Learn about the Thailand that most tourists don't get to visit at ThailandLife.com. Coming to Thailand on holiday or to work? Learn some Thai today for free at LearningThai.com and ThaiPhrasebook.com. A list of quality web sites about Thailand can be found at SrinaiWeb.com.