Wat Pho

Wat Pho is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple out of the six temples in Thailand. Also called as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, travelers will see the biggest collection of Buddha images in Thailand—it has more than one thousand images of Buddha, including the 46-meter long reclining Buddha that the first-time visitor must not miss.

This famous site is known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Those who want to learn about traditional Thai medicine as well as yoga positions should check this place out. The plaques that can be found here have medical texts inscribed during the Rama III restoration period. The Thai traditional medicine and the Thai massage were established in 1962. Thai massage is still taught within Wat Pho’s walls to pay tribute to Rama III’s mandate in the past to teach and preserve the traditional massage during the time it was facing extinction. Wat Pho is the earliest place for public education in Thailand, too, and this beautiful first-class Royal temple is truly a must-see in Bangkok.

Wat Pho is also an easy ten-minute walk from the Grand Palace. The former also has fewer tourists compared to the latter, which means it’s more relaxing to wander in Wat Pho.

TIPS

Wear decent clothes. Wat Pho is a Thai Buddhist temple, and visitors have to respectfully dress. Men should not wear shorts, tank tops, and sleeveless shirts. Women should not wear skirts and shorts above the knee, as well as tops that reveal bare shoulders.
When entering the structures in the complex, removing one’s shoes is required. It is advisable to wear shoes that can easily be removed for convenience.
Go early, preferably before the weather gets too hot.
You can book for Thai massage services to experience its authenticity.
Visitors can take photos in the complex premises.