Bangkok | Thailand

Wat Pho Bangkok

Thailand Tour 2013

Bangkok | Thailand

21 Nov 2013 | Thu

Day 36 of 43

  • The Grand Palace and Temple of The Emerald Buddha Bangkok
  • Wat Pho Bangkok

Wat Pho Bangkok

Wat Pho Bangkok is a stunning temple complex located in Thailand’s capital city. It is one of the oldest and largest temples in Thailand, having been built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period. The impressive structure covers an area of about 80,000 square meters, making it one of the most significant temple complexes in all of Southeast Asia.

Giant Reclining Buddha | Wat Pho Bangkok

Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์, pronounced wát pʰōː), also spelled Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan (Thai: วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลารามราชวรมหาวิหาร; pronounced [wát pʰráʔ tɕʰê:t.tù.pʰon wíʔ.mon.maŋ.kʰlaː.raːm râːt.tɕʰá.wɔː.ráʔ.má.hǎː.wíʔ.hǎːn]). The more commonly known name, Wat Pho, is a contraction of its older name, Wat Photaram (Thai: วัดโพธาราม; RTGS: Wat Photharam).

The temple is first on the list of six temples in Thailand classed as the highest grade of the first-class royal temples. It is associated with King Rama I who rebuilt the temple complex on an earlier temple site. It became his main temple and is where some of his ashes are enshrined. The temple was later expanded and extensively renovated by Rama III. The temple complex houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, including a 46 m long reclining Buddha. The temple is considered the earliest centre for public education in Thailand, and the marble illustrations and inscriptions placed in the temple for public instructions has been recognised by UNESCO in its Memory of the World Programme. It houses a school of Thai medicine, and is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage which is still taught and practiced at the temple.

– Wikipedia Wat Pho

Wat Pho is home to many unique features such as a giant reclining Buddha statue that measures 46 meters long, 15 meters high, and covered with gold leaf. The grounds also contain more than 1,000 Buddha images made from various materials including stone, bronze, and wood.

Phra Ubosot | Wat Pho Bangkok

One of Wat Pho’s main attractions is its traditional Thai massage school, where visitors can learn traditional Thai massage techniques as well as the philosophy behind them.

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