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Thailand - Wat Pho (Bangkok)

Photo Gallery of Wat Pho, one of temples in Bangkok.
(Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan)

Wat Pho is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, classified as a first class royal temple same as Wat Arun or Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) and is very famous for the huge Reclining Buddha. The temple is also known as Thailand's first university and the center of traditional Thai massage.
This temple was originally old temple from Ayutthaya period called Wat Photharam.

The image of a reclining Buddha
The image of a reclining Buddha represents the dying moment of Buddha, the moment entering into nirvana. It's said that if the eyes of a reclining Buddha are still open, that means Buddha still keeps teaching, and if eyes are close, Buddha already finished everything and is entering into nirvana.

The history on the information board of the temple says:

In the reign of King Rama I (1782－1809)
King Rama I had the entire temple restored in 1788 and ordered to bring all the Buddha images from deserted temples in the countryside to enshrine in ubosot (The ordination hall). After the temple celebration was held in 1801, it was renamed to Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalawat.
In the reign of King Rama III (1824－1851)
The monastery received another grand renovation. The King also ordered to gather scattering intellectuals and texts to be inscribed on marble slabs around the temple, which people could read and learn from. As a result, it was regarded as Thailand's first university.

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In the reign of King Rama IV (1851－1868)
The temple was partly restored and renamed to Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawiharn.

In the temple, which is considered to be King Ram I's favorite temple, there are plenty of religious buildings and objects worth to observe and to study from, such as the reclining Buddha, Phra Maha Chedi of the 4 reigns, statues of hermit demonstrating the various positions of massage, and several Chinese stone dolls.

Around the temple
The huge Reclining Buddha
The Scenery of the site
Guardians
The 4 huge chedis
Thai Massage and the first university
Small chedis

Wat Pho - Around the temple
Wat Pho is next to the Grand Palace and you can visit the temple by tuk-tuk or sightseeing car. (I guess you can walk but it's very or too much warm out there. :D)
People going around in a sightseeing car from the Grand Palace. If you want to drop by Wat Pho, it's okay just to get off on the way.		You'll go on this street from Grand Palace to Wat Pho.
Let's go to the temple People going around in a sightseeing car from the Grand Palace. If you want to drop by Wat Pho, it's okay just to get off on the way.		From Grand Palace to Wat Pho You'll go on this street from Grand Palace to Wat Pho.
Shops around Same as other tourist places, there are a lot of shops around the temple and you can get caps or other things for souvenir.	Shops around Same as other tourist places, there are a lot of shops around the temple and you can get caps or other things for souvenir.	Fruits Fruits seasoned with sugar or salt are sold in a Thai style.	Notice for New Year's It says nice monks will pray at nine at night and 200 monks will pray at midnight.
Shops around Same as other tourist places, there are a lot of shops around the temple and you can get caps or other things for souvenir.		Fruits Fruits seasoned with sugar or salt are sold in a Thai style.	Notice for New Year's It says nice monks will pray at nine at night and 200 monks will pray at midnight.

Wat Pho - The huge Reclining Buddha
The famous temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho. The huge Reclining Buddha in this temple is especially famous. The image of a reclining Buddha represents the dying moment of Buddha, the moment entering into nirvana. It says: if the eyes of a reclining Buddha are open, that means Buddha still keeps teaching, if eyes are close, Buddha already finished everything and enter into nirvana. Although you'll see other reclining Buddha images in Wat Yai Chai Mongkon in Ayuttaya or other places in Thailand, the Buddha image in Wat Pho is really amazing: The whole body is covered in gold leaf and it's 46 metres long and 15 metres high. You must go and check it once at least.
Relaxing reclining Buddha with the right arm serving as a pillow and the hand supporting the head. Forty-six meters long and fifteen meters high.		Really huge ! forty-six meters long.
		The whole view Really huge ! forty-six meters long.
		Very big foot; 5 meters long and 1.5 meters high. The sole of each foot are exquisitely decorated with 108 sacred scenes of Buddhist enlightenment in Chinese and Indian styles in mother-of-pearl inlay.
Upper body Relaxing reclining Buddha with the right arm serving as a pillow and the hand supporting the head. Forty-six meters long and fifteen meters high.		The Sole Of The Reclining Buddha Very big foot; 5 meters long and 1.5 meters high. The sole of each foot are exquisitely decorated with 108 sacred scenes of Buddhist enlightenment in Chinese and Indian styles in mother-of-pearl inlay.

Very big feet ! The toes are also covered in gold leaf.	It's believed to bring good luck if you put coins into each of all bowls.	The walls are painted with Buddhist paintings but a bit different ... ?
Toes Very big feet ! The toes are also covered in gold leaf.	108 bowls It's believed to bring good luck if you put coins into each of all bowls.	The wall The walls are painted with Buddhist paintings but a bit different ... ?

Behind The scenery of looking up from behind. The hand is supporting the head. The image is elaborately designed, isn't it ?
Behind The scenery of looking up from behind. The hand is supporting the head. The image is elaborately designed, isn't it ?

The path where you see the Reclining Buddha.	Beautifully designed with flower patterns.	Donation box on the way.	Other Buddha images and monks' images near the Reclining Buddha.
Path The path where you see the Reclining Buddha.	Patterns of columns Beautifully designed with flower patterns.	Donation Donation box on the way.	Another images Other Buddha images and monks' images near the Reclining Buddha.

Wat Pho - The Scenery of the site
The scenery of the site of Wat Pho. When I visited here this time, it was around New Year's and very crowded with visitors for pray. (I feel like it's usually not so crowded but specially crowded around New Year's.) The scenery of the site of Wat Pho. When I visited here this time, it was around New Year's and very crowded with visitors for pray. (I feel like it's usually not so crowded but specially crowded around New Year's.)
Scenery seen after visiting the Reclining Buddha.		Scenery seen after visiting the Reclining Buddha.
Scenery of the site 1 Scenery seen after visiting the Reclining Buddha.

If your clothes scanty, you must wear a waist cloth like them on the right to get in the temple.	A lot of visitors light candles.	Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) ?
Scenery of the site 2 If your clothes scanty, you must wear a waist cloth like them on the right to get in the temple.	Pray A lot of visitors light candles.	Kannon ? Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) ?
The temple has a big gong.	A bell on the high place. I want to hear the sound once.	There are gates in the temple. This is one of decorations of them.
Big Gong The temple has a big gong.	Bell A bell on the high place. I want to hear the sound once.	Decoration of gates There are gates in the temple. This is one of decorations of them.

Wat Pho - Guardians

In the site of the temple, various shaped guardians guard gates. It's so nice to go and check them around.

They say this statue is "Marco Polo", famous for the book, "the Marvels of the World" (The Travels of Marco Polo or Il Milione). I'm not sure if it's true or not, though.

In the site of the temple, various shaped guardians guard gates.

As the Grand Palace or Wat Arun has the same kinds of images, it looks like this temple was also influenced by Chinese culture.

By the way, they say the statue on the left is "Marco Polo", famous for the book, "the Marvels of the World" (The Travels of Marco Polo or Il Milione). I'm not sure if it's true or not, though. :D

Statue 1
Warrior ?

Statue 2
Monk ? It looks characteristic.

Statue 3
A little bit funny faced warrior ?

Statue 4
A wise man ?

Statue 1
Warrior ?

Statue 2
Monk ? It looks characteristic.

Statue 3
A little bit funny faced warrior ?

Statue 4
A wise man ?

Wat Pho - The Four Huge Chedis
As the huge Reclining Buddha, a group of four huge chedis, Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn, is very famous; each chedi is 42 meter high and colorfully decorated with tiles. As well as the huge Reclining Buddha, a group of four huge chedis, Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn, is very famous; each chedi is 42 meter high and colorfully decorated with tiles. Each of the four Chedis was built to commemorate the reigns of King Rama I to IV of the Chakri Dynasty (current dynasty) and it's said that the green is for King Rama I, the white is for King Rama II, the yellow is for King Rama III and the dark blue is for King Rama IV. By the way, I think the colors indicates the colors of the bases. The King Rama IV ordered to enclose the four chedis with no extra space for more chedis because the four Kings met each other and lived in the same period.
Chedi 1: Rama I Phra Maha Chedi Sri Sanpetdayarn.		Chedi 1: Decoration The chedi is decorated in orange-based color. Very beautiful.
Chedi 1: Rama I Phra Maha Chedi Sri Sanpetdayarn. The chedi is decorated in orange-based color. Very beautiful.
Chedi 2: Rama II Phra Maha Chedi Dilok Dhammakaroknitarn.		Chedi 2: Decoration 1 Around the top.
		Chedi 2: Decoration 2 The chedi is decorated in white-based color with flower shaped tiles.
Chedi 2: Rama II Phra Maha Chedi Dilok Dhammakaroknitarn. The chedi is decorated in white-based color with flower shaped tiles.
Chedi 3: Rama III Phra Maha Chedi Muni Batborikharn.		Chedi 3: Decoration The chedi is decorated in yellow-based color with flower shaped tiles.
Chedi 3: Rama III Phra Maha Chedi Muni Batborikharn. The chedi is decorated in yellow-based color with flower shaped tiles.
Chedi 4: Rama IV Phra Maha Chedi Song Phra Srisuriyothai.		Chedi 4: Decoration The chedi is decorated in blue-based colour. The decoration is a little different from other chedis.
Chedi 4: Rama IV Phra Maha Chedi Song Phra Srisuriyothai. The chedi is decorated in blue-based colour. The decoration is a little different from other chedis.

Wat Pho - Thai Massage
In the reign of King Rama III (1824－1851), the King ordered to gather scattering intellectuals and texts to be inscribed on marble slabs around the temple, which people could read and learn from such as medicine, literature and arts. As a result, it was regarded as Thailand's first university. The building in the picture below has wall pictures of Thai massage knowledge.
The building in the picture has wall pictures of Thai massage knowledge.		Energy points, old women and cow-headed men ... ? (What are they .. ? )
The building inside the temple grounds. The building in the picture has wall pictures of Thai massage knowledge.		Painting on the wall 1 Energy points, old women and cow-headed men ... ? (What are they .. ? )
Energy or pressure points are described with its explanations. Both male and female figures are drawn.		Energy or pressure points are described with its explanations.
Energy points ? Energy or pressure points are described with its explanations. Both male and female figures are drawn.

Energy points, maybe, are drawn here also.	Cow headed massagers (aren't they ?) are painted. From Chinese culture ?	I guess they are old women. What are they doing ... ?
Painting on the wall 2 Energy points, maybe, are drawn here also.	Animal head Cow headed massagers (aren't they ?) are painted. From Chinese culture ?	Old women ? I guess they are old women. What are they doing ... ?

Wat Pho - Small Chedis
The chedis are smaller than four huge chedis for Kings but much bigger than the size of human beings. The view of the chedis is spectacular. I guess this is a little different from other temples, but there are a lot of chedis in the site of Wat Pho. The chedis are smaller than four huge chedis for Kings but much bigger than the size of human beings. The view of the chedis is spectacular.

Small chedis They say that the number of the small chedis is 71. They were built in the reign of the King Rama III and they are for keeping ashes of royal descendents.	Small chedis They say that the number of the small chedis is 71. They were built in the reign of the King Rama III and they are for keeping ashes of royal descendents.	Decorations 1 Beautifully decorated like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.
Small chedis They say that the number of the small chedis is 71. They were built in the reign of the King Rama III and they are for keeping ashes of royal descendents. Beautifully decorated like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.

A group of chedis A group of chedis standing on the same base. They were built in the reign of the King Rama I and holy relics of Buddha are kept inside.		Decorations 2 The small chedis are also beautifully decorated with flower shaped tiles like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.
A group of chedis A group of chedis standing on the same base. They were built in the reign of the King Rama I and holy relics of Buddha are kept inside.		Decorations 2 The small chedis are also beautifully decorated with flower shaped tiles like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.

Stone statues 1 How to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?	Stone statues 1 How to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?	Stone statues 1 How to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?
Stone statues 1 How to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?

Stone statue 2 Showing how to massage ?	Stone statue 3 An attractive statue but is it for Yoga ?	Stone statue 4 Is it for Yoga or something else ?	Stone statue 5 Lion ?
Stone statue 2 Showing how to massage ?	Stone statue 3 An attractive statue but is it for Yoga ?	Stone statue 4 Is it for Yoga or something else ?	Stone statue 5 Lion ?

Home > Photos (Thailand) > Wat Pho (Bangkok)

Thailand - Wat Pho (Bangkok)

Wat Pho - Around the temple

Wat Pho - The huge Reclining Buddha

Wat Pho - The Scenery of the site

Wat Pho - Guardians

Wat Pho - The Four Huge Chedis

Wat Pho - Thai Massage

Wat Pho - Small Chedis