Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok
From the glorious temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok to crumbling ruins in rural areas, Thailand has some of the most impressive temples in Southeast Asia. On any visit to the country it is easy to get ‘templed-out', a feeling that comes when you have seen one too many and they all start to look the same! The answer is to be selective. In Bangkok, a ‘must-see' temple is Wat Pho.
Bangkok is home to many spectacular temples but Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon as it is also known is one of the finest. The temple is famous for a huge reclining Buddha housed with a beautifully decorated hall. Situated on a 20 acre site, Wat Pho is also one of the largest in Bangkok.
The Reclining Buddha is one of the most impressive statues in Thailand. The 46 metre long and 15 metre high figure was constructed in 1832 during the reign of King Rama III. Designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana, the enormous feet feature mother-of-pearl inlay decoration showing the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha.
The inner and outer galleries at Wat Pho are lined with 788 Buddha images, the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. The temple also has 95 chedi of various sizes, the largest of which were built to commemorate the first four kings of the Chakri Dynasty. Wat Pho is also a centre for the teaching traditional Thai medicine and massage. King Rama III instructed that the temple should become a centre of learning and had traditional knowledge inscribed on stone slabs.
The entrance to Wat Pho is on Chetuphon Road, walking distance form Wat Phra Kaew.