Wat Pho
Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthava period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I. It feature the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.
Chetuphon Road devides the ground in two, with each section surrounded by huge whitewashed walls. The most interesting part is the northern compound, which includes a very large Bot, the hall enclosed by a gallery of Buddha images and four Wihan; four large Chedis commemorating the first three Chakri kings (Rama III has two Chedis); 91 smaller Chedis, an old Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures) library ; a sermon hall; the large Wihan, which houses the reclining Buddha, and a school building for classes in Abhidhama (Buddhist philosophy), plus several less important structures.
The tremendous reclining Buddha, 46 metres long and 15 metres high, illustrates the passing of the Buddha into Parinibbana (post-death nirvana). The figure is modelled out of plaster around a brick core and finished in gold leaf. Mother-of-pearl inlay ornaments the eyes and feet of the colossal image, the feet displaying 108 different ouspicious characteristics of a Buddha. The images on display in the four Wihans surrounding the main Bot in the eastern part of the compound are interesting. Particularly beautiful are the Phra Buddha Jinnarat and Phra Buddha Chinnasi, in the west and south chapels, both from Sukhothai.
The galleries extending between the four chapels feature no less than 394 gilded Buddha images. King Rama I's remained are interred in the base of the presiding Buddha image in the Bot.
Wat Pho is the national headquaters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage. A massage school convenes in the afternoons at the eastern end of the compound; a massage costs 250 baht per hour and 150 baht for a half-hour. You can also study massage in seven to 10-day courses.
The building housing the Reclining Buddha Image is open daily from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
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