Wat Pho In Bangkok, Thailand

By alantvuong on June 16, 2020

The day after my buddy and I spent a rainy day in Siam back in March 2013, it was a great sunny day for us to check out Wat Pho. We already visited The Grand Palace a few days earlier, which is just a 15 minute walk/stroll apart. Wat Pho is also known as the Temple Of The Reclining Buddha.

Getting There

My buddy and I wanted to have a cheap Thai meal somewhere in the area before visiting Wat Pho . From our hotel at W Hotel, we took a 20 minute regular taxi to have our lunch. We found a small local shop that served some rice dishes (that had a few plastic tables and chairs for seating) that we could smell as we went by and wanted to try. We ordered rice with pork and veggies for 45 baht ($1.50 USD) and it was literally one of my favorite meals of the trip. Everything was cooked perfectly and the sauces on the food was to die for.

delicious cheap meal before visiting Wat Pho

About Wat Pho

Wat Pho was built in 1788 and is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon District. The temple complex houses the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, including a 46 meter (150 feet) long reclining Buddha. Wat Pho is open daily from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM and there is a similar strict dress code to other Thai religious temples. Admission to Wat Pho is about 500 baht ($6 USD) which is quite a great price.

at the entrance

The Temple Complex

The temple complex contains four great chedis, which is a mound like structure containing relics that is used as a place for meditation. There is also 91 small chedis, 2 bell towers, a central shrine called a bot, halls, pavilions, gardens, and a small temple museum.

guardian statue

garden

Phra Ubosot is a large assembly hall used for performing Buddhist rituals and the most sacred building of the complex. It is surrounded by 4 smaller halls that are of simple design and decor. There is a courtyard surrounding Phra Ubosot which has a covered walkway that is lined with over 150 Buddha images. It was really something cool to see.

Phra Ubosot

We also enjoyed checking out some of the smaller chedis including Phra Chedi Rai. There are 71 of these small chedis which are about 5 meters (16 feet) high and contains the ashes of members of the royal family.

Phra Chedi Rai

Reclining Buddha

The Viharn Phranorn contains the Reclining Buddha, which is the main attraction of Wat Pho. There was a couple steps to get inside and the guy in charge of making people take off their shoes helped us up the stairs. I didn’t even have to take my sandals off either since my feet never touches the ground. Once we enter the hall, there are several places where we can take pictures with the giant statue. It is 15 meters (49 feet) high and 46 meters (150 feet) long and the Buddha is in a reclining or sleeping position.

just got the head of the Reclining Buddha

The statue is made of plaster bricks and gilded in gold. My buddy and I enjoyed taking pics with the Reclining Buddha and got to examine it’s beauty. At the base of the Buddha’s feet, we see the very impressive mother-of-pearl designs. Lining along side the wall of the viharn are 108 bowls which are said to bring good luck and long life if you place a coin in each.

more of the Reclining Buddha

Reclining Buddha feet

We ended up staying at Wat Pho for a few hours and really enjoyed our visit here. It was definitely worth the 100 baht price of admission. Wheeling around the area was not too bad and getting inside the building to see the Reclining Buddha did require a few steps in. Once inside, be prepared to see the giant magnificent Reclining Buddha and marvel in its beauty.