Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya Historical Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ruins of a royal temple

In present-day Thailand sit the ruins of the ancient kingdom that preceded it, Ayutthaya. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, shown here, was the holiest site in the capital of that kingdom, a royal temple containing a 52-foot tall, golden Buddha among other treasures. The first king of Ayutthaya, Ramathibodi I, ordered the construction of a royal palace here in 1350. Nearly a century later, the palace was moved to a different location in the city and the former palace grounds were converted to a holy site. The three structures shown are called chedis, bell-like structures, topped with miniature chedis on their roofs. After serving as the seat of the kingdom for 417 years, the capital city of Ayutthaya was sacked in 1767 by the invading Burmese, who melted down the copious gold of the temples and palaces, then set the buildings on fire. All but these three chedis were completely destroyed, and over time they fell into ruin.

We’re featuring these ruins because today is Songkran, Thailand’s traditional (though not official) New Year and a very popular water festival. What began as a ritual of pouring water over statues of Buddhas and each other as a way to signify purification and the washing away of sin and bad luck, has become a good-natured, multiday water battle enjoyed across the nation.