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We crossed the Chao Phraya River from Wat Arun to reach our next stop: Wat Pho – The Temple of the Reclining Buddha! No spiritual or cultural journey in Bangkok would be complete without visiting Wat Pho Temple Complex, also known as the “Temple of the Reclining Buddha”.
While we were approaching the entrance, I was kind of shocked by the crowd waiting outside. Despite hundreds of people waiting in front of the complex, we could buy the tickets fast and enter the temple.
The temple is the oldest and one of the largest temple complexes in Bangkok, located just next to the Grand Palace! Built-in 1788, the Buddhist Temple has an area of 80,000 square meters and is home to more than a thousand Buddha statues collected during the reign of King Rama I. Wat Pho is also home to 91 chedis (stupas), 4 halls (viharas), and a central shrine (bot). Interesting to know is that Wat Pho is considered the centre of the preservation of traditional Thai massage. Another interesting fact is that Wat Pho is the oldest public university in Thailand!
The Reclining Buddha of Wat Pho
Despite all these interesting facts about Wat Pho, the most famous spot and highlight in the complex is the enormous, gold-plated reclining Buddha. The giant golden Buddha is about 46 m long and 15 m high – so large it feels like it has been squeezed into the building. Even the Buddha’s feet are 5 m long and 3 m tall! Just Amazing! … I still don’t know how they manage to put the statue into the building. Or maybe the statue was first, and then came the building?
In front of the giant Reclining Buddha, you will see 108 bronze bowls which line the length of the walls. These bowls symbolize the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha. Many people put coins into the bowl because they believe that this brings happiness and good fortune. You can purchase a bowl of coins at the entrance.
Things to Know Before You Go
Official Name: Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn
Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District, Bangkok 10200
Opening Hours: Wat Pho is open every day from Monday-Sunday – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tickets: 100 baht (2,50 €)
Ticketing Service: From 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Hotels Near Wat Pho: Find the best deals here!
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