Wat Pho

Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon. It is located behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and is the largest temple in Bangkok. It is famed for its huge and majestic reclining Buddha, measuring 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf. The Buddha's feet are 3 metres long and exquisitely decorated in mother-of-pearl illustrations of auspicious 'laksanas' (characteristics) of the Buddha.

Apart from this exquisite statue of Buddha, there is much more to see here.Founded in the 17th century, the temple is older than Bangkok. The name Wat Pho comes from its original name of Wat Potaram. King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok, enlarged the temple, installed many statues and other artefacts recovered from Ayuthaya, and renamed the temple Wat Phra Chetuphon in 1801.

It was King Rama III who enlarged the temple further in 1832 and turned the temple into a center of learning, making it in essence Thailand's first university. Rama III is also responsible for the construction of the reclining Buddha.

Next to the Reclining Buddha wiharn is an enclosure holding the four largest of the temple's 95 chedis. All of the chedi at Wat Po are square, rather than the round bell shape generally preferred at the time. They are decorated with ceramic tiles and three dimensional ceramic pieces which form intricate floral patterns. The center of the three chedi in a line is the oldest, having been built by Rama I to hold the Phra Si Sanphet Buddha image bought from Ayuthaya. Later, Rama III built the chedi north of this to hold the ashes of Rama II, and the one to the south to hold his own remains.

Behind the courtyard containing the chedis of the four kings is a mondop that houses ancient Buddhist scriptures, many of them inscribed on palm leaves. The mondop and surrounding small buildings are air-conditioned and climate controlled to preserve these scriptures and are not open to public for that reason.

In the temple complex there is also a ubosot containing a magnificent alter with a large Buddha, all finished in gold and crystal. Outside the ubosot you can sometimes find classical mask-makers demonstrating their art.

To get to Wat Pho, take the Chao Phraya River Express to the Tha Thien pier, then walk through the market and up the short street. Wat Po is directly across the intersection on your right. On the left you wil see the rear wall of the Grand Palace.

There is an entrance fee of 20 Baht.