Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Ayutthaya historical park, Ayutthaya, Thailand.

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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.

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Size: 2790px × 4200px
Location: thailand
Photo credit: © Michael DeFreitas Asia / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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