Wat Pho is the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, and one of the six temples in Thailand designated as a first-class royal temple. Wat Pho is not only famous for its vast size and rich historical heritage but also attracts countless visitors due to its unique architectural complex.
The history of Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) in Thailand dates back to the 16th century, during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. In 1788, King Rama I ordered the restoration of the dilapidated Wat Photharam (also known as Wat Pho). The reconstruction took seven years, during which time King Rama I relocated Buddha statues from abandoned temples in Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, and other areas to Wat Pho. Most of the structures visible in the temple today were completed during the reign of King Rama III, who expanded Wat Pho significantly. Among the key additions was the famous Reclining Buddha Hall. The statue itself was molded with a brick core and then covered in gold leaf for decoration.
Inside the Reclining Buddha Hall, the Reclining Buddha statue measures 46 meters in length and 15 meters in height. The statue is in the “siha-saiyas” posture (sleeping lion posture), symbolizing the Buddha’s entry into Nirvana. The Buddha’s right arm supports his head, which rests on two box-like pillows inlaid with glass mosaics. Each foot of the statue is 5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. The soles of the feet are stacked on top of each other, with 108 auspicious symbols made from mother-of-pearl inlays adorning them.
Within Wat Pho, the temple is adorned with numerous stupas, with nearly a hundred of various sizes. These stupas are either covered in gold leaf or decorated with colorful porcelain, and the four largest towers are particularly impressive. In addition, the temple features a unique landscape of stone inscriptions found on the columns, walls, and plaques throughout the temple’s corridors and halls. These inscriptions cover a range of topics, including the temple’s history, Buddhist scriptures, medicinal formulas, and literature. Many of these ancient texts, which are hard to find in the general public, can still be found here. For this reason, Wat Pho is often referred to as “Thailand’s first university”.
Wat Pho is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Between 1831 and 1841, King Rama III and Thai scholars added 1,431 stone inscriptions to preserve cultural heritage, including those related to Thai massage. Before the introduction of Western medicine in the mid-19th century, Wat Pho was also a center for medical education. Today, the temple still houses a private school, established in 1957, that continues to teach traditional Thai medicine. On February 21, 2007, the marble inscriptions and images of Wat Pho were included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World program to protect these precious historical records.
The architectural style and size of the buildings within the temple vary, creating a vibrant and diverse architectural tapestry. At the temple’s walls and the gates of the main courtyard, large Chinese statues and stone carvings depicting Europeans can be found. It is said that these statues were originally imported as ballast on ships involved in trade with China.
The main hall (Phra Uposatha) is the most sacred building in Wat Pho, originally constructed in 1791 by King Rama I in the Ayutthaya style. Later, during the reign of King Rama III, the hall was expanded and rebuilt in the Rattanakosin style.
The main hall is built on a marble platform and is situated at the center of the temple’s courtyard, surrounded by double colonnades (Phra Rabiang). Inside, there is a three-tiered base, upon which sits a gilded Buddha statue (Phra Buddha Theva Patimakorn). Above the statue is a nine-tiered umbrella, symbolizing Thailand’s authority. On the outer railings around the main hall, approximately 150 stone engravings of scenes from the epic “Ramakien” are carved. These inscriptions represent the ultimate transcendence from the material to the spiritual realm. The stone slabs were originally from a temple in Ayutthaya.
Surrounding the main hall are the double colonnades (Phra Rabiang), which house approximately 400 Buddha statues from northern Thailand. These statues come from various periods in Siamese history, including the Chiang Saen, Sukhothai, U-Thong, and Ayutthaya periods. Of these statues, 156 are positioned on the inner side of the colonnades, facing the main hall, while the remaining 244 are on the outer side, facing the courtyard. The statues are placed on gilded bases, and because they come from different regions, King Rama I ordered them to be renovated and covered in plaster and gold leaf to give them a uniform appearance.
The temple also houses a library (Phra Mondop) containing Buddhist scriptures. This library is usually not open to the public, as the palm-leaf manuscripts must be stored in a controlled environment to preserve them. King Rama III constructed this library, and guarding its entrance are statues known as “Yak Wat Pho” (“The Giants of Wat Pho”), which are placed in niches beside the main door. The colonnades surrounding the library display early murals depicting scenes from the “Ramayana”.
Next to the Reclining Buddha Hall is a small garden, which features a Chinese-style pavilion. From each window of the pavilion, visitors can enjoy picturesque views of the surroundings. At the center of the garden stands a Bodhi tree, brought from Sri Lanka. This tree is said to be a descendant of the original Bodhi tree in India, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.
The corridors of Wat Pho are lined with 108 bronze bowls. Visitors can drop coins into these bowls, making wishes for good fortune while also helping fund the temple’s upkeep.
Wat Pho is not only a center for Buddhist rituals and religious activities but also a must-visit attraction in Bangkok, thanks to its unique architectural complex and rich cultural heritage. Each year, it draws visitors and pilgrims from around the world, who come to pray, make offerings, and experience the solemnity and sanctity of this ancient temple. Whether admiring the grandeur of the Reclining Buddha or strolling through the diverse architectural features of the temple grounds, Wat Pho offers visitors an unforgettable cultural experience.
