Thailand is the
land of ornate and spectacular temples and no visit to Thailand is complete
without taking in a temple or two. Wat Pho, which you may remember Leo
DiCaprio visiting in the movie The Beach, is the oldest, largest and probably the most
famous temple, and should definitely be on everyone’s must-see list.
Reclining Buddha
The reclining
Buddha is incredible, both in terms of size and the detail of design. He is 46
metres long, 15 metres high, made of plaster and finished in gold-leaf. The soles
of his feet are inlaid with delicate images made of mother of pearl depicting
the 108 characteristics of Buddha.
 |
| The reclining Buddha |
You enter the structure at Buddha’s head and
can walk all around his feet and back. The walls and ceiling are covered in
intricate decoration and the room also shows many detailed paintings.
 |
| Mother of pearl detail on the soles of the reclining Buddha's feet, Wat Pho, Bangkok. |
Beyond Buddha
Although to many
the essence of Wat Pho is the giant reclining Buddha, it is far from the only
thing to see. The Wat Pho complex stretches over an entire block in the centre
of Bangkok and comprises the main building housing the reclining Buddha,
several smaller buildings containing different Buddhas, large areas with
corridors lined with seated Buddhas, a small shopping area, an area once used
for medical education (complete with anatomical paintings on the walls) and a
massage school.
 |
| Ornate architecture at Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand. |
It is easy to
spend a few hours wandering around the complex, which provides a soothing oasis
of calm in the centre of Bangkok’s chaos. The many different areas of the
complex provide the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, as well as
several temples and some impressive architecture to look at. There are also
several cats lazing around in the gardens if you are a cat person.
 |
| A cat enjoys the Wat Pho gardens. |
Get Physical
If you feel it is
also time to invest in your body you can have a traditional Thai massage on the
complex too. Wat Pho was once an open university and is now Thailand’s centre
of learning for traditional Thai medicine. You are provided with some loose
cotton trousers and then invited to lie on one of several large beds in a large
room and have your body manipulated into more awkward positions you could ever
have thought of yourself.
 |
| Buddhas, Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand. |
Things to
remember
As with visiting
any other religious or spiritual place it is polite to be sensitive to local
customs and to behave calmly and quietly. When visiting temples it is essential
to remove shoes, and dress appropriately covering your arms and legs. This can
be challenging in Bangkok’s muggy heat, but is important in order to be
respectful, and is easily addressed by carrying a sarong.
Have you visited
Wat Pho? What did you think of it?
