Wat Pho, Bangkok

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This is the largest temple complex in Bangkok and one of the largest in all of Thailand. Its most famous for the Reclining Buddha. It is gilded in gold and measures 150 feet long, the largest such figure in all of Thailand. You will also see 4 magnificent Chedi brilliantly decorated. These commemorate the first 4 kings of Thailand, Rama I, II, III and IV. The last being for King Mongkut, most famous in the west as the king from the film, Anna and the King.
Prepare to spend at least an hour here exploring the wonderous sites of this complex.

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Wat Pho, or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It is home to more Buddha images than any other Bangkok temple and it shelters the largest Buddha in Thailand, the Reclining Buddha.

Wat Pho is the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Even prior to the temple's founding, the site was a center of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions.
Wat Pho is the largest and oldest wat in Bangkok and is home to more than 1,000 Buddha images, more than any other temple in the country.

It also shelters the largest Buddha image in Thailand: the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas). Created as part of Rama III's restoration (1824-51), the Reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high.

His body is covered in gold plating and he is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay on his eyes and the soles of his feet. The bottoms of the Buddha's feet are intricately decorated with 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles.

the sheer size of the buddha is amazing...dont miss it.

We were nearly being con by the local.When we got off the boat, looking for wat pho a local told us wat pho was closed until 4pm today.
He offered to bring us to other places @ 80bahts per head.We decided to ignore him in the end and saw a sign "WAT PHO" turn right. Guess what, the temple is OPEN.....i cant believe these people can lie so well infront of the temple...

Just be careful and ignore local who are telling you it is close for ceremony whatsoever...

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This is so impressive, it deserves to be a trip by it’s self.
This amazing Buddha image is 46m long and 15m high. It seems as if the building is far too small for this image. It is rather busy and crowded, but a must see.
It is very shiny and the feet with 'mother of pearl' is magnificent.

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This is the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok. If you only have time to visit one wat, do visit this one.
The whole complex of buildings, chedi etc is very impressive.
This is also the headquarters where traditional Thai medicine is thought, including Thai massage.
One of the highlights of visiting Wat Pho, must be the reclining Buddha (see next tip)

This is one of the main wats (Buddhist temples) in Bangkok and highly recommended. It's near Kao San Road area. Beautiful architecture and main building has the famous huge golden reclining buddha. You can plan to see this and the even more spectactular Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace, which are right next to it.

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A part of the compound, a huge and large cloister wich houses nearly 400 Buddha statues with the Ubosot in the middle. Inside the Ubosot is a huge altar with a large Buddha, all finished in gold and crystal.

When i visited the Wiharn of the reclining Buddha, i heard some strange and regular sound....plinc, plinc, then i found out what causes the sound, behind the front of the statue there are a long row of pots in wich people throw coins.