Whether it is by boat, bus, taxi or tuk tuk, getting back to your hotel after a day tramping around the city is simple. A word of advice though, make sure your cabs are metered and that you establish the price with the tuk tuk driver before you commence your journey. Otherwise you could be... Continue Reading →

Wat Ratchaburana was built by a Chinese merchant named Liab in late Ayutthaya period, and formerly known as Wat Liab. In the Thornburi period the temple was the residence of ecclesiastical dignitaries but it fell into decline. In 1793 during the reign of Rama I Chaofa Krommaluang Thepphitak (the King's grandson) had the temple restored... Continue Reading →

Next to the amazing Buddhist temple complex of Wat Pho are the grounds of the Grand Palace. Originally built in 1782 by Rama I, the palace is no longer occupied by the royal family and is mostly used for official ceremonies. Underneath the Royal Reception Hall (pictured above) is a military museum housing the royal... Continue Reading →

This is a group of four large stupas at Wat Pho, each standing 42 metres high. The first one was built by King Rama I whereby the remnants of the golden Buddha from Ayutthaya, that was melted down and stolen by the Burmese c1767, was to be kept. King Rama III built two more for... Continue Reading →

Information about the guardian statues is difficult to find as there are no inscriptions around the site. Some of them have top hats and walking sticks, others look like ancient wizards, warriors or animals. These statues adorn not only the sixteen entrances to Wat Pho, but many of the chapels as well. I believe their... Continue Reading →

Within the grounds of Wat Pho lies Phra Rabiang, a cloister of approximately four hundred different Buddha statues some of which date back several centuries. These statues are covered in gold leaf to protect them from the elements and many are adorned during times of celebration such as Buddhist lent. The cloister surrounds Phra Uposatha,... Continue Reading →

The large grounds of Wat Pho contain more than 1000 Buddha images in total, most from the ruins of the former capitals Ayuthaya and Sukhothai. [1] What a lot of people don't know is that Wat Pho also houses Thailand's first University, it is the centre for traditional Thai massage instruction and it also has... Continue Reading →

Phra Chedi Rai are a series of approximately seventy small chedis built in the grounds of Wat Pho by King Rama III. Each chedi stands around five metres high and contains the ashes of a member of the royal family.

Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์, IPA: [wát pʰoː]), also spelt Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok [1]. The official name of the temple is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn, but many also refer to it as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It resides on an area of 20 acres... Continue Reading →