Wat Pho

If you only see one temple in Bangkok, make it Wat Pho: home of the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand. The 141-foot-long statue is an artistic masterpiece plated in gold leaf and inlaid with mother of pearl. You could easily spend all day wandering the grounds, looking at reliquaries, visiting the massage school, and admiring the 400 statues of Buddha in the outer cloister—each posed and sculpted slightly differently. Before you leave, drop some money in one of the 108 begging bowls (one bowl for each of the characters of Buddha). The money goes to maintaining the Wat and the gift will bring you good luck. That seems like a fair trade.

One of the largest wats in Bangkok and home to over 1,000 images of the Buddha, Wat Pho is most famous for this sculpture of a giant reclining Buddha. He’s 46 meters long with feet inscribed with mother-of-pearl mosaics and a body covered in gold leaf. Very impressive. Wat Pho isn’t a pilgrimage site, but you can drop some money in one of 108 begging bowls and maybe bring yourself some good luck.

This is huge and so hard to photograph, as it is surrounded by large columns which are very close to it. But it is magnificent. It’s near the Royal Palace and a must see in Bangkok. Take the water taxi and walk a block, it’s the coolest way to get around.

Absolutely massive statue. The history of Buddhas life is written in pictographs on the bottoms of his feet. This is a must see in Bangkok. Near the Royal Palace.

This is a most lovely temple with an impressively large reclining Buddha. The grounds of this temple is well worth sampling as well. Inside the temple, the reclining Buddha occupies much of the inner space leaving a narrow corridor for devotees and visitors to walk the length of the reclining Buddha. More info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho

The largest reclining Buddha in the world resides here at Wat Pho, which in itself is remarkable. Beyond that there is so much more to explore and see here within this beautiful gem of temple grounds set amongst the many temples of Bangkok. The grounds of Wat Pho are made up of several temples, within its compound beyond where the reclining Buddha resides. It is also home to more than one thousand Buddha images. The many stupas and courtyards are beautifully tiled with intricate designs that reach up to the heavens. Getting to Wat Pho was easy. I took an orange river taxi which run frequently and I got off at stop #8. The taxi cost 15 Baht, which equals about .50 cents US. The entrance fee to Wat Pho was 100 Baht or $3.35 US. From the river dock it’s about a block away and easy to find. I was lucky the day I decided to visit as there were only a few tourist besides people making reverence.

I spent only a few days in Bangkok so I wanted to see as much as I could during my short visit. And there is a lot to see! I ventured out into the 100 degree heat to explore some of the marvelous sights around Bangkok. On the top of the list was the Grand Palace. While there, I stopped in Wat Pho. The Buddha is amazing to see and quite impressive. Make sure you check out the feet. Speaking of feet, your shoes come off before entering the temple (just in case someone out there aside from me didn’t know this). You can buy a bowl full of coins at the entrance and drop them in the 108 buckets on your way around the temple. The coins sound lovely when they fall and the kids I saw there really enjoyed this part. The money from the coins goes to temple preservation.

If you don’t mind getting wet, one of the best thing about Songkran is the multi street food vendors from the different regions of Thailand that congregate around the temples in Bangkok

I am always struck by the details in classical Thai architecture. The details, marked with an intricacy, the ornate, and a splash of the unexpected are archetypes which have permeated much of Thailand: From the colorful taxis and tuk-tuks to the sculpted rooflines on many of the old homes, this style is omnipresent. Many of these details are found at Wat Pho: tall chedis and bell towers, finely carved and embossed with figures and flowers and colorful tiles, point decidedly towards the heavens; gold leaf patterns set against deep hues of red and blue and black cover the temple walls; the story of Ramakien, an epic mythology, is seen in the murals and figures which frame the buildings. Cats flit amongst the people and the thousand Buddhas which line the temple grounds; it is not hyperbole to suggest that the Thais have a deep reverence for the sacrosanct. Wat Pho is most known for the Reclining Buddha, a figure in repose who stretches approximately 150 feet. 108 auspicious symbols, set in inlaid pearl like henna, mark the Buddha’s feet. Wat Pho is busy, especially where the Reclining Buddha lays, but if you wander beyond the crowds and into the different compounds, you might find it a fine place for reflection and contemplation.

Although most visitors will head directly to Bangkok’s Royal Palace to see the Emerald Buddha (and rightly so), Wat Pho offers equally spectacular sites on grounds adjacent to the Palace. The grounds include four immaculately detailed chedi devoted to four kings. The famed Reclining Buddha lies inside the hall. The Buddha is more than a hundred feet long and 45 feet tall; the sculpture is covered in gold and its feet inlayed with intricate mother of pearl. As you’re viewing the Buddha, you’ll hear satang coins rattling into 108 black-ceramic bowls lining one wall. The bowls represent each of Buddha’s auspicious characteristics. Visitors place coins (essentially pennies, though to the U.S. dollar their value is even less) in each to contribute to the temple and to earn good favor. You’ll need to plan ahead if you want to put in your own coins.

Tranquility...

The Wat Pho temple in Bangkok is a site you don’t want to miss. This is particularly true if you’re not going to be getting out of the city. This is a group of temples that’s truly what you would expect from Thai temples. It’s a large complex of buildings each with a unique temple or temple use inside. The most famous temple of this complex houses the reclining Buddha. It’s also the most crowded of these temples, but well worth waiting for. The rest of the temples are all very pretty, but you can decide if you want to explore them by poking your head into the door and making an assessment. The best part about Wat Pho is the fact that you can wander. There are all kinds of little passageways and gardens well worth checking out. As well as the temples, there are also schools, various shops, and even a massage place. Not all of the buildings are open to the public, but we had no problem walking around the complex without being stopped. The most difficult time you’ll have is getting to these temples, particularly if you’re staying in the new part of city. The Wat Pho temple is located in the old city, and is not serviced by the sky trains. This means you have two choices to get yourself there, taxi/tuktuk, or boat. If you take the boat you’ll not only get to the temples, but the view along the river is spectacular. There is a Sky train that will drop you off right at the boat dock where you can get your tickets for the boat that will drop you off right outside the temple.