Bustling Bangkok | Part 6 | The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

During our vacation, we spent seven days in Bangkok. I’m going to split our time in Bangkok into multiple parts to cover a wide range of information about the places we visited, the modes of transportation, and the costs involved.

In this sixth chapter, I’ll share our experience at Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

A Bit of Background

Wat Pho is among the largest Buddhist temples in Thailand and is world-famous for its 46-meter-long Reclining Buddha statue. Wat Pho is also a royal temple complex built by King Rama I. The temple consists of multiple halls, pagodas, and other structures made with royal cremains.

Our tour guide explained that traditional Thai massage originated here. There was also a medical pavilion with several illustrations related to massage theories.

It’s possible to experience authentic Thai massage at this temple, and more details, including pricing, can be found on their official website.

Location and Entrance

Wat Pho is about a 12-minute walk from the Grand Palace, so it’s best to plan visits to both places together. The entrance fee is 300 Baht per person, and the temple is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. We purchased tickets at the entrance with help from our tour guide. The dress code is the same as in other temples—you’ll need to wear modest, covered clothing.

More interesting details, including other available activities, can be found on their website as well.

_{Floor Plan and the Official Website}

As with other temples, mornings or evenings are the best times to visit, to avoid the burning sun and heavy crowds.

The Reclining Buddha

The statue represents Buddha’s resting position. It is 15 meters high and 46 meters long, making it one of Thailand’s largest. The statue is gilded in gold, making it look magnificent. The Buddha’s feet are divided into panels and decorated with symbolic motifs. A separate display showing these symbols was also available near the statue.

We dropped coins into bronze bowls placed next to the Buddha statue. This practice is quite different from the “panduru boxes” found in Sri Lankan temples.

More Dagobas

Within the temple complex, there are a number of large, medium, and small-sized chedis (dagobas). Some contain Buddha’s relics, while others enshrine the cremains of royals. All the chedis are decorated with colorful mosaics, which make them glow beautifully in the daylight.

The temple grounds are quite spacious, and you can easily spend 1–2 hours exploring.

There were no restrictions on photography, but it’s important to remain respectful, as these structures represent the remains of Buddhism and Thailand’s rich cultural heritage.