Wat Pho

Spanning 46 meters in length, the Reclining Buddha statue is the star of Wat Pho Bangkok. The very remarkable Reclining Buddha,is located in the compound's main whăhn, or sanctuary, and depicts the Buddha's going into nirvana (i.e. the Buddha's death). The feet are embellished with mother-of-pearl inlay, which depicts the 108 various láksànà (characteristics) of a Buddha. Continuing the number motif, there are 108 metal monk bowls below the statue; for 20B, you may buy 108 coins, which are then thrown into a bowl for good fortune and thanks.

The bòht, or the ordination hall at the temple, as it appears now is the product of major modifications going back to the time of Rama III in the 19th century. The marvelous edifice was initially erected during the reign of Rama I in the 18th century, and influenced by the Ayuthaya style of design, traces of which are still evident despite the newer ramifications. Inside, there are stunning paintings and a three-tiered pedestal that houses the ashes of Rama I, as well as Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn, the second-most notable Buddha statue at Wat Pho Bangkok.

Numerous other smaller statues of Buddha in his various forms can be seen adorning the walls of Wat Pho Bangkok. The pictures on exhibit in the four whăhns that encircle Phra Ubosot are worth looking into. The Phra Chinnarat and Phra Chinnasri Buddhas in the western and southern chapels, respectively, were saved from Sukhothai by Rama I's family. There are 394 gilded Buddha figures covering virtually all schools of traditional Thai workmanship, from Lopburi to Ko Ratanakosin, in the galleries that run between the four buildings.

A short marble wall encircles Phra Ubosot, with 152 bas-reliefs showing incidents from the Ramakien, Thailand's version of the Ramayana. When you depart the temple and pass the hawkers selling mass-produced rubbings, you'll see several of these figures: they're constructed from cement casts of Wat Pho's reliefs. Nearby, Unesco-awarded inscriptions outlining the concepts of traditional Thai massage may be seen in a tiny pavilion west of Phra Ubosot. These carvings, along with 2000 more such inscriptions that adorn the walls of Wat Pho Bangkok, preserve the knowledge of Ancient Thai wisdom, contributing to the popular saying that the temple is Thailand’s first public university.

Simply speaking, a Chedi is a traditional Thai name for a Buddhist stupa, and Wat Pho Bangkok has several of those. A group of four towering tiled chedis honoring the first four Chakri rulers can be seen on the grounds' western side. Note the square bell shape with defined corners, which is a hallmark of Ratanakosin design, as well as the titles that mimic the Buddhist flag's colors. The Phra Si Sanphet Dayarn, a 16-meter-high standing Buddha image from Ayuthaya, is housed in the middle chedi, which is dedicated to Rama I. The ashes of minor royal ancestors are scattered throughout the compound's 91 smaller chedis.

The lofty Phra Mondop, also known as hr rai and acting as a storehouse for Buddhist literature, is guarded by four yaksha, or guardian demons. According to legend, a quarrel between the four led to the clearance of what is now known as Tha Tien. Just south of the Phra Mondop lies the Crocodile Pond at Wat Pho, which is presently free of its residents.

Sala Kan Parian is one of the few remaining structures in the temple that predates the major renovations carried out by Rama III in the 19th century. The edifice, which was built in the Ayuthaya style, served as the wát's major bht and housed the temple compound's main Buddha statue.

Although the temple is the primary attraction here, the grounds of Wat Pho are no less in terms of beauty. Small Chinese-style rock gardens and hill islands provide shelter, vegetation, and whimsical decorations reflecting daily life in the compound's various tiled courtyards. Look for the unique rockery featuring sculptures of the hermit Khao Mor, who is credited with coming up with the practice of yoga, in different therapeutic poses. A Bodhi tree (ôn po), developed from a cutting of the original beneath which the Buddha is claimed to have attained enlightenment, is located just south of the main whăhn and is the basis of the temple's vernacular name, Wat Pho.

The Granite Statues are permanent residents of the Wat Pho grounds. The rock giants arrived in Thailand as ballast on Chinese junks and were put to work defending temple gates and courtyards at Wat Pho (and other wát, notably Wat Suthat). If you look attentively, you'll notice a variety of Chinese characters. Lan Than are giants with protruding eyes and Chinese opera costumes who were inspired by military noblemen. A farmer in a straw hat is often interrupted while plowing the fields throughout his day's labor. Marco Polo, with his fedora hat and mustache, is, of course, the guy who brought European fashions to the Chinese court.