Wat Pho

There are different Buddha positions that represent the day of the week you were born. I’m Tuesday so I get reclining Buddha! The Tuesday Buddha is represented by a pose whereby it is lying on its right side with head resting on its right arm and the toes perfectly parallel to each other. (Pang Sai Yat)

Wat Pho… also known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan.

I was so excited about this because it was on the Amazing Race season one!!! 108 coins dropped in 108 bronze bowls for good luck. 🪙

Wat Pho is the first on the list of 6 temples in Thailand classified as the highest grade of the first-class royal temples. It’s also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage which is still taught and practiced at the temple. I wish we had had time for a massage here! Thai massage is a fully clothed massage with an emphasis on stretching. Foot massages are also popular in Thailand.

Built in 1852, the ginormous reclining Buddha is 15 m high and 46 m long—the largest Buddha statue in Thailand.

It feels too large for its building! The figure has a brick core, which was modelled and shaped with plaster, then gilded. ✨

The feet of the giant reclining Buddha are mother-of-pearl inlay.

Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest temples. It existed before Bangkok was established.

These giant statues are from China and were used to counterbalance the boats when carrying lightweight cargo like silk!

Wat Pho cloisters

Phra Ubosot or bot is the ordination hall, the main hall used for performing Buddhist rituals, and the most sacred building of the complex.

Wat Pho is absolutely worth a visit when in Bangkok. Of all the many temples we visited, it was my favorite.