The three lonely, bell-shaped chedis of Wat Phra Si Sanphet have become Ayutthaya’s symbol. The temple stands in the center of the historic capital. It was built by King Boromatrailokanat in 1448. The temple took its name from the large standing Buddha image erected there in 1503 -- it stood 53 feet tall and was covered with more than 330 pounds of gold. The Buddha was destroyed when the Burmese sacked the city. King Rama I collected the remaining pieces and placed them in a chedi at Wat Pho in Bangkok. The temple was originally connected to the royal palace (Wang Luang).