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Thailand - Wat Pho (Bangkok)

Photo Gallery of Wat Pho.
(Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan)

Wat Pho is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, classified as a first class royal temple same as Wat Arun or Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) and is very famous for the huge Reclining Buddha. The temple is also known as the center of traditional Thai massage.

Wat Pho was originally an old temple called Wat Photharam from Ayutthaya period.

The image of a reclining Buddha
The image of a reclining Buddha represents the dying moment of Buddha, the moment entering into nirvana. It says that if the eyes of a reclining Buddha are still open, that means Buddha still keeps teaching, if eyes are close, Buddha already finished everything and enter into nirvana.

The history in the explanation board in the temple says:

In the reign of King Rama I (1782－1809)
King Rama I had the entire temple restored in 1788 and ordered to bring all the Buddha images from deserted temples in the countryside to enshrine in ubosot (The ordination hall).
After the temple celebration was held in 1801, it was renamed to Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalawat.
In the reign of King Rama III (1824－1851)
The monastery received another grand renovation. The King also ordered to gather scattering intellectuals and texts to be inscribed on marble slabs around the temple, which people could read and learn from. As a result, it was regarded as Thailand's first university.
In the reign of King Rama V (1868－1910)
The temple was partly restored and renamed to Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawiharn.
In the temple, which is considered to be King Ram I's favorite temple, there are plenty of religious buildings and objects worth to observe and to study from, such as the reclining Buddha, Phra Maha Chedi of the 4 reigns, statues of hermit demonstrating the various positions of massage, and several Chinese stone dolls.

Around the temple
The huge Reclining Buddha
The Scenery of the site
Guardians
The 4 huge chedis
Thai Massage
Small chedis

Wat Pho - Around the temple
Wat Pho is next to the Grand Palace and you can visit the temple by tuk-tuk or sightseeing car. (I guess you can walk but it's very warm out there. :D) Wat Pho is next to the Grand Palace and you can visit the temple by tuk-tuk or sightseeing car. (I guess you can walk but it's very warm out there. :D) The Picture left: People going around in a sightseeing car from the Grand Palace. If you want to drop by Wat Pho, it's okay just to get off on the way.
Shops around Same as other tourist places, there are a lot of shops around the temple and you can get caps or other things for souvenir.	Shops around Same as other tourist places, there are a lot of shops around the temple and you can get caps or other things for souvenir.	Fruits Fruits seasoned with sugar or salt are sold in a Thai style.	Notice for New Year's It says nice monks will pray at nine at night and 200 monks will pray at midnight.
Shops around Same as other tourist places, there are a lot of shops around the temple and you can get caps or other things for souvenir.		Fruits Fruits seasoned with sugar or salt are sold in a Thai style.	Notice for New Year's It says nice monks will pray at nine at night and 200 monks will pray at midnight.

Wat Pho - The huge Reclining Buddha
The huge Reclining Buddha is very famous. The image of a reclining Buddha represents the dying moment of Buddha, the moment entering into nirvana. It says that if the eyes of a reclining Buddha are still open, that means Buddha still keeps teaching, if eyes are close, Buddha already finished everything and enter into nirvana. Although you'll see other reclining Buddha images in Wat Yai Chai Mongkon in Ayuttaya or other places in Thailand, the Buddha image in Wat Pho is really amazing: The whole body is covered in gold leaf and it's 46 metres long and 15 metres high. You must go and check it once at least.
Upper body Relaxing reclining Buddha with the right arm serving as a pillow and the hand supporting the head. Forty-six meters long and fifteen meters high.		The whole view Really huge ! forty-six meters long.
		The whole view Really huge ! forty-six meters long.
		The Sole Of The Reclining Buddha Very big foot; 5 meters long and 1.5 meters high. The sole of each foot are exquisitely decorated with 108 sacred scenes of Buddhist enlightenment in Chinese and Indian styles in mother-of-pearl inlay.
Upper body Relaxing reclining Buddha with the right arm serving as a pillow and the hand supporting the head. Forty-six meters long and fifteen meters high.		The Sole Of The Reclining Buddha Very big foot; 5 meters long and 1.5 meters high. The sole of each foot are exquisitely decorated with 108 sacred scenes of Buddhist enlightenment in Chinese and Indian styles in mother-of-pearl inlay.
Toes Very big feet ! The toes are also covered in gold leaf.	108 bowls Said to bring good luck if you put coins into each of all bowls.	Path The path where you see the Reclining Buddha.	The wall The walls are painted with Buddhist paintings but a bit different ... ?
Toes Very big feet ! The toes are also covered in gold leaf.	108 bowls Said to bring good luck if you put coins into each of all bowls.	Path The path where you see the Reclining Buddha.	The wall The walls are painted with Buddhist paintings but a bit different ... ?
Patterns of columns Beautifully designed with flower patterns.	Donation Donation box on the way.	Another images Other Buddha images and monks' images near the Reclining Buddha.	Another images Other Buddha images and monks' images near the Reclining Buddha.
Patterns of columns Beautifully designed with flower patterns.	Donation Donation box on the way.	Another images Other Buddha images and monks' images near the Reclining Buddha.
Behind The scenery of looking up from behind. The hand is supporting the head. The image is elaborately designed, isn't it ?
Behind The scenery of looking up from behind. The hand is supporting the head. The image is elaborately designed, isn't it ?

Wat Pho - The Scenery of the site
The scenery of the site of Wat Pho. When I visited here last time, it was around New Year's and it was very crowded with visitors for pray. (I feel like it's usually not so crowded and around New Year's is specially crowded.) The scenery of the site of Wat Pho. When I visited here last time, it was around New Year's and it was very crowded with visitors for pray. (I feel like it's usually not so crowded and around New Year's is specially crowded.)
Pray A lot of visitors light candles.	Scenery of the site Checked around after visiting the Reclining Buddha.	Scenery of the site Checked around after visiting the Reclining Buddha.	Big Gong The temple has a big gong.
Pray A lot of visitors light candles.	Scenery of the site Checked around after visiting the Reclining Buddha.		Big Gong The temple has a big gong.
Bell Bell on the high place. I want to hear the sound once.	Scenery of the site 2 If you show too much, you must wear a waist cloth like them on the right to get in the temple.	Kannon ? This kind of image is not seen so often. Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) ?	Decoration of gates There are gates in the temple. This is one of decorations of them.
Bell Bell on the high place. I want to hear the sound once.	Scenery of the site 2 If you show too much, you must wear a waist cloth like them on the right to get in the temple.	Kannon ? This kind of image is not seen so often. Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) ?	Decoration of gates There are gates in the temple. This is one of decorations of them.

Wat Pho - Guardians

They say the statue on the left is "Marco Polo", famous for the book, "the Marvels of the World" (The Travels of Marco Polo or Il Milione). I'm not sure if it's true or not, though.

In the site of the temple, various shaped guardians guard gates. As the Grand Palace or Wat Arun has the same kinds of images, it looks like this temple was also influenced by Chinese culture.

By the way, they say the statue on the left is "Marco Polo", famous for the book, "the Marvels of the World" (The Travels of Marco Polo or Il Milione). I'm not sure if it's true or not, though. :D

Statue 1
Warrior ?

Statue 2
Monk ?

Statue 3
A little bit funny faced warrior ?

Statue 4
A wise man ?

Statue 1
Warrior ?

Statue 2
Monk ?

Statue 3
A little bit funny faced warrior ?

Statue 4
A wise man ?

Wat Pho - The Four Huge Chedis
As the huge Reclining Buddha, a group of four huge chedis, Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn, is very famous; each chedi is 42 meter high and colorfully decorated with tiles. As the huge Reclining Buddha, a group of four huge chedis, Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn, is very famous; each chedi is 42 meter high and colorfully decorated with tiles. Each of the four Chedis was built to commemorate the reigns of King Rama I to IV of the Chakri Dynasty (current dynasty) and it's said that the green is for King Rama I, the white is for King Rama II, the yellow is for King Rama III and the dark blue is for King Rama IV. By the way, I think the colors indicates the colors of the bases. The King Rama IV ordered to enclose the four chedis with no extra space for more chedis because the four Kings met each other and lived in the same period.
Chedi 1: Rama I Phra Maha Chedi Sri Sanpetdayarn	Chedi 1: Decoration The chedi is decorated in orange-based color. Very beautiful.	Chedi 2: Rama II Phra Maha Chedi Dilok Dhammakaroknitarn	Chedi 2: Decoration The chedi is decorated in white-based color with flower shaped tiles.
Chedi 1: Rama I Phra Maha Chedi Sri Sanpetdayarn	Chedi 1: Decoration The chedi is decorated in orange-based color. Very beautiful.	Chedi 2: Rama II Phra Maha Chedi Dilok Dhammakaroknitarn	Chedi 2: Decoration The chedi is decorated in white-based color with flower shaped tiles.
Chedi 3: Rama III Phra Maha Chedi Muni Batborikharn	Chedi 3: Decoration The chedi is decorated in yellow-based color with flower shaped tiles.	Chedi 4: Rama IV Phra Maha Chedi Song Phra Srisuriyothai	Chedi 4: Decoration The chedi is decorated in blue-based colour. The decoration is a little different from other chedis.
Chedi 3: Rama III Phra Maha Chedi Muni Batborikharn	Chedi 3: Decoration The chedi is decorated in yellow-based color with flower shaped tiles.	Chedi 4: Rama IV Phra Maha Chedi Song Phra Srisuriyothai	Chedi 4: Decoration The chedi is decorated in blue-based colour. The decoration is a little different from other chedis.

Wat Pho - Thai Massage
The building in the picture has wall pictures of Thai massage knowledge. In the reign of King Rama III (1824－1851), the King ordered to gather scattering intellectuals and texts to be inscribed on marble slabs around the temple, which people could read and learn from such as medicine, literature and arts. As a result, it was regarded as Thailand's first university. The building in the picture has wall pictures of Thai massage knowledge.
energy points ? energy or pressure points are described with its explanations.	energy points ? energy or pressure points are described with its explanations.	energy points ? energy or pressure points are described with its explanations.	animal head Cow headed massagers ? are painted. From Chinese culture ?
energy points ? energy or pressure points are described with its explanations.			animal head Cow headed massagers ? are painted. From Chinese culture ?

Wat Pho - Small Chedis
The chedis are smaller than four huge chedis for Kings but much bigger than the size of human beings. The view of the chedis is spectacular. Different from other temples, there are a lot of chedis in the site of Wat Pho. The chedis are smaller than four huge chedis for Kings but much bigger than the size of human beings. The view of the chedis is spectacular.
Small chedis They say that the number of the small chedis is 71. They were built in the reign of the King Rama III and they are for keeping ashes of royal descendents.	Small chedis They say that the number of the small chedis is 71. They were built in the reign of the King Rama III and they are for keeping ashes of royal descendents.	A group of chedis A group of chedis standing on the same base. They were built in the reign of the King Rama I and holy relics of Buddha are kept inside.	Decorations 1 The small chedis are also beautifully decorated with flower shaped tiles like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.
Small chedis They say that the number of the small chedis is 71. They were built in the reign of the King Rama III and they are for keeping ashes of royal descendents.		A group of chedis A group of chedis standing on the same base. They were built in the reign of the King Rama I and holy relics of Buddha are kept inside.	Decorations 1 The small chedis are also beautifully decorated with flower shaped tiles like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.
Decorations 2 Beautifully decorated like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.	Stone statues 1 how to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?	Stone statues 1 how to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?	Stone statues 1 how to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything ... ?
Decorations 2 Beautifully decorated like the huge chedis for the Kings, Rama I to Ram IV.	Stone statues 1 Around the small chedis, there are stone statues posing for something. I heard that Wat Pho has statues for Yoga or massage that have people understand how to do Yoga or massage only by looking, no need to read anything. Are they ... ?
Stone statue 2 Showing how to massage ?	Stone statue 3 A little attractive statue but is it for Yoga ?	Stone statue 4 Is it for Yoga or something else ?	Stone statue 5 Lion ?
Stone statue 2 Showing how to massage ?	Stone statue 3 A little attractive statue but is it for Yoga ?	Stone statue 4 Is it for Yoga or something else ?	Stone statue 5 Lion ?