Wat Pho, Bangkok – the Reclining Buddha and massage school
How to visit Wat Pho, home of Bangkok's giant Reclining Buddha and the birthplace of Thai massage teaching. Tips, timing and getting there.
Wat Pho, officially Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples, just south of the Grand Palace. It is famous for its Reclining Buddha, about 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf, and as a historic centre of traditional Thai medicine and massage.
What to see
- The Reclining Buddha, whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl images.
- Four great chedis decorated with ceramic tiles, dedicated to the first four kings of the Chakri dynasty.
- Hundreds of Buddha images lining the cloisters.
- Inscriptions on medicine, massage and literature set into the temple walls, recognised by UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme.
Thai massage
The Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School offers massages to visitors in the temple grounds and runs courses for students from around the world.
Tips
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
- Wat Pho is quieter than the Grand Palace, especially late in the afternoon.
- Combine it with the Grand Palace and a ferry across the river to Wat Arun.
Getting there
Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Tien pier, or the MRT to Sanam Chai station, about five minutes’ walk away.