Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha

Wat Pho, sometimes spelled Wat Po, is famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses. Covering an area of 20 acres, it is the largest temple in Bangkok, and is the oldest temple as well, as it was built around 200 years before Bangkok became Thailand's capital. However, today Wat Pho has little resemblance to the one originally constructed, as it was almost entirely rebuilt by King Rama I when the capital was moved to Bangkok. It holds honor of having Thailand's largest reclining Buddha image and the highest number of Buddha images in Thailand.

The impressive gold plated reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, and is designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The feet and the eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration, and the feet also show the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha.

Throughout the grounds of Wat Pho, there are more than 1000 Buddha images, most from the ruins of the former capitals Ayuthaya and Sukhothai. The grounds are split in two by Chetuphon road. The northern section is generally the only one most tourists go to, and it includes a large temple hall, enclosed by 394 bronze Buddha images. Outside the hall, there are 152 marble slabs depicting the second half of the epic Ramakian story. Also near here are four chedis, constructed to honor the first three Chakri kings (two for King Rama III). There are also a massive 91 other Chedis of varying sizes around the grounds, along with chapels, rock gardens, an array of different types of statues, inscriptions, belltowers and resident fortune tellers. The library is nearby too, decorated impressively with figures and pagodas made of porcelain, in much the same way as Wat Arun across the river. The much less visited southern section has less of interest, but makes a good place to find a monk to chat to for a while. Most would welcome the chance to practice their English on visitors.

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The entrance to Wat Pho is on Chetuphon road. The entrance fee is 20B. It's open every day, from 08.00am to 5.00pm, with a break from 12.00pm to 1.00pm.  Guides can be hired at the entrance for 150B for one person, 200B for two, 300B for three, but they're not really needed. On Sundays, you can see students being taught traditional Thai dance and music.

Don't listen to anyone on the street as you try to enter telling you it's closed for a 'Buddhist holiday', 'cleaning' etc, or asking if you want to see the 'Lucky Buddha' instead - it's all part of a gem scam.

Airconditioned buses 6, 8 and 12 all stop close to Wat Pho, and the Tha Tien express boat pier is very near. Ordinary buses that go near Wat Pho are buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 62 and 91 which stop on Maharat road. Buses 44, 47 and 91 all stop on Thaiwang road, on the north side of Wat Pho, south of Wat Phra Kaew. It's also just a short river crossing away from Wat Arun. It's within walking distance of Wat Phra Kaew Grand Palace, and (if you're feeling energetic) the National Museum too.

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