Wat Phra Si Sanphet
วัดพระศรีสรรเพชญ์
A royal temple within the Ayutthaya palace complex. Three Sri Lankan-style bell-shaped chedis standing side by side are Ayutthaya's most classic silhouette, and the forerunner of Bangkok's Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet lies within the ruins of the old royal palace on the northwest side of the old city island. In 1448, King Borommatrailokanat built it within the palace grounds as a royal temple reserved for the royal family, with no resident monks. Its status was comparable to that of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in today's Grand Palace in Bangkok. The three Sri Lankan-style bell-shaped chedis, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, each enshrine the ashes of one of three kings. They are Ayutthaya's most recognizable silhouette and a common design on Thai stamps and commemorative coins. The temple once housed a standing Buddha 16 m tall, covered in 340 kg of gold. In 1767, Burmese forces melted the gold and burned the statue, and now only the base and broken walls remain. Next door, Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit houses a 17 m bronze seated Buddha. Entry is free, and it is a place where locals come to worship. The old palace ruins lie north of the temple, and only the foundations remain. Tickets cost 50 baht, included in the 220 baht combo pass. Opening hours are 08:00 to 18:00. Plan about an hour to visit this temple together with Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit and the palace ruins. The market in front of the temple sells coconut ice cream and souvenirs, and nearby is the Ayutthaya Tourist Center, which offers free exhibitions explaining the city's history. Notes: do not climb the chedi bases. It is baking hot with no shade at noon. Enter Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit barefoot, with shoulders and knees covered.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
- Wat Phra Ram
- Wat Thammikarat
- Wat Lokayasutharam
- Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
- Wat Mahathat
- Wat Ratchaburana
- Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre