Wat Pho Information

Wat Pho Information

Wat Pho is one of the most popular temples in Bangkok, and with good reason. Located a conveniently short walk from the Grand Palace in the Phra Nakhon district, this richly historical site is the most sizeable, and arguably the oldest ‘Wat’ in Thailand.  It is home to the famous ‘Reclining Buddha’, a gold-plated statue with an extraordinary length of 46 meters, and eyes and feet magnificently encrusted with mother of pearl.

Wat Pho also hosts the largest collection of Buddhist images in Thailand. Lovers of sculpture and culture alike will be delighted by the impressive array of over 1000 bronze and marble representations, many of which can found inside the main bot, or temple hall. Surrounding the bot are majestic marble depictions of the Thai epic, Ramaken, as well as numerous mounds called chedas, containing the ashes of Buddha and various members of royalty since the 16th century.

But Wat Pho is not just architecturally delightful- it is also the home of Thai massage and traditional Thai medicine, with the first school for traditional massage opened here in the 1960s. Wander over to the intricately adorned medicine pavilion, located at the far end of the compound, for a massage at affordable rates - no need to book. One to two week massage courses are also available for those with a deeper interest in this ancient practice.

Wat Pho is made up of two walled compounds. Allocate at least half a day to tour the northern compound with its two main attractions: the Reclining Buddha and massage school. The southern compound contains a bustling monastery, which is also open to visitors if you wish to pay a visit. A good option is to split the day between Wat Pho and the nearby Grand Palace or Wat Arun, just across the river.

Transport to the site includes regular buses or a boat to the Tha Chang pier. Parking for visitors is not permitted.