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Wat Pho (Wat Po), officially called Wat Phra Chetuphon, is also commonly known as The Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The temple is apparently the oldest and largest in Bangkok, and is also one of the most spectacular.
The Reclining Buddha
Near the entry is the site that most people go to the temple to see, the famous Reclining Buddha.
The Reclining Buddha
The Reclining Buddha measures 45m in length and 15m high, covered in gold leaf with mother of pearl on its feet. I was surprised at how large it actually is and how small the building is that it is housed in. It can get quite cramped if a lot of tourists are visiting, so try to go early to beat the crowds.
A Buddha statue with the Reclining Buddha behind it
Artwork on a door in the room housing the Reclining Buddha
Up close with the Reclining Buddha
Close up of the feet of the Reclining Buddha, with it’s mother of pearl inlay
Wat Pho Temple Complex
Outside of the Reclining Buddha there is plenty of Wat Pho to explore. The temple is full of amazing architecture and artwork, along with beautiful gardens and statues that just make the whole place seem peaceful.
There are several large stupas around the temple along with over 1000 Buddha images and statues. The four largest stupas were built by royalty to house their ashes, and are covered in beautiful ceramic flower decorations.
The four royal stupas
A carved stone statue
Golden Buddha Statues
Close up of some flower decorations on one of the royal stupas
The face of a golden Buddha statue
In the center of the wat is the main shrine, being the largest building in the temple complex. It is surrounded by rows of golden Buddha statues and inside the shrine itself is another huge Buddha, covered and surrounded by decorations and artwork.
The main shrine
Decorations in the shrine
A statue outside the main shrine
Visiting Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho is located right next the to the Grand Palace and you could easily spend a couple of hours exploring the temple. The entrance fee for foreigners is 300 baht (~$9.50USD) (*Updated 2024) and gives you access to the entire temple complex.
Wat Pho is one of the must visit temples in Bangkok. If you are going to Bangkok, Thailand, be sure to put it on your list.
You have some nice photos here. Such a great spot, and worth a stopover in Bangkok though most people just head straight to the coasts.
Thanks Kris. Bangkok is definitely worth a visit. I spent 5 days there and could have spent a lot longer. I have been in Thailand for nearly two weeks and haven’t made it to the coasts yet. Too much to see 🙂 Cheers
I agree with Kris here. Bangkok has some charms that are often overlooked and this is certainly one of them!
I agree. I loved Bangkok and in fact I’m heading back there tomorrow night. There’s so much to see and do, plus it’s so cheap!
Love love LOVE Wat Pho. Still one of the most beautiful things I saw in the whole world.
I agree Brock, it’s a beautiful place. I wandered around for hours and took about a billion photos ;). Cheers
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