Wat Pho, officially named Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, is a first-class royal temple renowned for housing the spectacular Reclining Buddha image. Located immediately south of the Grand Palace, it is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple complexes, serving as the main temple for King Rama I, whose ashes are partially enshrined there.
The highlight is the colossal Reclining Buddha, which measures 46 meters long and 15 meters high. It is constructed of brick and plaster, beautifully gilded in gold leaf, and represents the Buddha entering final Nirvana (passing into the afterlife). The soles of the feet are an artistic marvel, nearly five meters long and intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting the 108 auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.
Beyond the famous statue, Wat Pho is historically significant as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. King Rama III commissioned engraved texts and illustrations on granite slabs around the complex, establishing it as Thailand’s first public university for traditional medicine. Visitors can still receive a certified Thai massage on the temple grounds today. The complex also boasts the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and a striking array of 91 colorful chedis (stupas).
