Temples in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former capital of Siam, has several ancient temples for visitors to admire. // © 2015 Shane Nelson

Wat Mahathat features a stone Buddha head surrounded by the tangled roots of a banyan tree. // © 2015 Shane Nelson

Wat Mahathat and its surrounding temples are regarded as one of Thailand’s most popular cultural attractions. // © 2015 Shane Nelson

Artifacts, such as this Buddha, have gone through several renovations over the years. // © 2015 Shane Nelson

Wat Phra Si Sanphet features three towering chedis that once held the remains of three Siamese rulers. // © 2015 Shane Nelson

This massive bronze Buddha, called Phra Mongkhon Bophit, stands 40 feet tall and is 30 feet wide. // © 2015 Shane Nelson

These ancient ruins, called Wat Chaiwatthanaram, house several intact stone Buddhas. // © 2015 Shane Nelson