Wat Pho in Bangkok is also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha or Wat Phra Chetuphon, it is famous for containing the longest Buddha image in all of Thailand and being one of the oldest temples in the Asian country with almost 200 years of antiquity.
The Buddha figure that he keeps inside is 26 meters long by 15 high and is covered with silver gold, represents Buddha in nirvana, his feet are 5 meters long and have engraved illustrations of his history.
Wat Pho Temple contains more than 1,000 Buddha images in total and just on the other side of the river bank you will find the Wat Arun temple, you can reach it on foot when leaving the Grand Palace, to enter you must wear the appropriate clothing as in the Royal Palace for holy places and that means not showing your shoulders or your legs.
You must take off your shoes to enter Wat Pho Temple and it is advisable to take a container of coins at the entrance to use them inside the temple and follow the ritual of good luck, you can leave 108 bronze coins along the urns that are around the walls of the temple. It is advisable to take a walk around the temple where you will find chapels with images of Buddha, bronze statues and walls with paintings and artistic decorations.
Wat Pho Temple of the reclining Buddha is one of the oldest in Bangkok, it exists before the reign of King Rama I when he established Bangkok as the capital of Thailand, originally its name was Photaram Temple but it was renamed. During the fall of Ayutthaya, King King Taksin moved the capital to Thonburi (Bangkok) and established his palace near Wat Arun, one of the most important temples in the capital, just across the river, so it became a monastery. real.
Wat Pho Temple has undergone many changes during the last 260 years, mainly during the reign of Rama III who renovated and lengthened it making it the longest temple in Thailand, a process that took almost 17 years to complete, I also decorated its walls with diagrams and Buddhist inscriptions that are considered UNESCO heritage.
If you are going to visit Bangkok this is one of the places that you should not miss. The usual thing is to reserve a morning to visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, all of them essential and very close to each other. The first good news when visiting the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is that the ticket includes a bottle of cold water, something that should never be missing in your backpack. Although the Wat Pho temple complex is large, the highlight is in front of the same entrance: the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.
Thailand's capital is home certainly many places to discover, is one of the most populated cities in Southeast Asia, could spend weeks on the streets discovering things, if you want to know more temples I suggest visiting some such as the Temple of the Dawn, Wat Benchamabophit or Wat Mahathat that are beautiful, you cannot miss the Wat Saket temple, if you want to see curious places visit the temple of the giant swing known as Wat suthator the Golden Buddha that is in Wat Traimit.
Address Wat Pho Temple: 2 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Website Wat Pho Temple: https://www.watpho.com/th/