Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)Situated adjacent to the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho is
Bangkok's oldest, largest and most famous temple, recognised by the
UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. The grounds of Wat Pho
contain over 1,000 statues of Buddha, and the temple houses one of
Thailand's most spectacular sights, the Reclining Buddha: a
157-foot (48m) long and 49-foot (15m) high statue that is
gold-plated and inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl on the soles of its
feet. In the 19th century King Rama III turned Wat Pho into a
centre of learning and is considered the birthplace of the
traditional Thai massage. Visitors today can still have a massage
and learn about the ancient art of Thai Medicine. Address: 2 Sanamchai Road Website: www.watpho.com Telephone: (0)2 222 5910 o Transportation: Bus 6, 8, 12 (aircon); public buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 62
and 91; or express boat to Tien pier Opening Time: Daily 8am-5pm, massages until 6pm. Admission: THB 20 |