Wat Pho

วัดโพธิ์

Bangkok's oldest and largest temple, home to a 46-meter gilded reclining Buddha and 108 bronze bowls. It is also the birthplace of Thai massage, and you can get a massage on site.

Wat Pho, formally known as Wat Phra Chetuphon, dates back to the Ayutthaya period in the 16th century and was expanded under Rama I and Rama III. It is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, located just south of the Grand Palace. The highlight is the gilded reclining Buddha inside the ordination hall, which measures 46 meters long and 15 meters high and depicts the Buddha entering Nirvana. The soles of its feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting 108 auspicious symbols. Along one side of the hall stand 108 bronze bowls, and visitors can drop 20-baht coins into them one by one for good luck. The temple also features four giant, colorfully tiled chedis representing the first four kings of the Chakri dynasty, a main ordination hall, around 1,000 Buddha images along the cloisters, and inscriptions from Rama III's reign, when knowledge of medicine and massage was carved into stone tablets. This makes it the site of Thailand's first public university and the birthplace of Thai massage. The temple's massage school offers traditional massage, around 320 baht for 30 minutes, and you may have to queue. Foreigners pay 300 baht, which includes a bottle of water. Visit tip: Visit in the same morning as the Grand Palace. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours, then take the 5-baht ferry from Tha Tien Pier behind the temple to Wat Arun on the opposite bank. Getting there: It's a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Sanam Chai MRT station. Dress code: Long trousers and sleeves are required. Remove shoes before entering the reclining Buddha hall, where shoe bags are provided. The hall is cramped, so arriving at 8 a.m., when it opens, is the most comfortable option.

Wat Pho

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