Wat Pho

2006-07-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

Wat Pho

2006-07-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

Wat Pho

2006-07-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

Wat Pho, also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple was created as a restoration of an earlier temple on the same site, Wat Phodharam, the work beginning in 1788. The temple was restored and extended in the reign of King Rama III, and was restored again in 1982.

Wat Pho is the largest and oldest wat in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 8 ha), and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, more than any other temple in the country, as well as the largest single Buddha image: the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas).

Created as part of Rama III's restoration, the Reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, decorated with gold plating on his body and mother-of-pearl on his eyes and the soles of his feet. The feet are intricately decorated with 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles.

The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Even prior to the temple's founding, the site was a center of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions. During the Rama III restoration plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple, while in 1962 a school for traditional medicine and massage was established.

The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds, bisected north-south by Sanamchai Road running east-west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found. The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school.