Wat Po
, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Bangkok
, Bangkok
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Wat Po, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok. Wat Po is also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon. Wat Po was said to be constructed in the 16th century, predating the Grand Palace. The chapel in which the Reclining Buddha is housed was built on the orders of King Rama III.
The Reclining Buddha is 46 metres long. It is somewhat shorter than the Shwethalyaung Buddha of Bago and Kyaukhtatgyi Buddha of Yangon.
The Reclining Buddha of Wat Po depicts the dying Buddha awaiting his passage into nirvana. Its head rises 15 metres above ground. Each foot is 3 metres high and 5 metres long. The feet are decorated with mother-of-pearl.
The Reclining Buddha.
Full length of the Reclining Buddha.
Next to the chapel of the Reclining Buddha are four of the biggest of the temple's 95 chedis. The chedis contain relics of Thai kings. The oldest was built by Rama I to hold the Phra Si Samphet Buddha image from Ayutthaya. They are decorated with ceramic tiles. All the chedis of Wat Po are square, unlike the round ones found at the neighbouring Wat Phra Kaeo.
Three of the bigger chedis at Wat Po.
Phra Mondop
Like Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Po also has a Phra Mondop, or scripture hall, where Buddhist scriptures are kept. The mondop is again a square building, with an exquisitely intricate roof of ceramic tiles. The mondop is air-conditioned, but not opened to the public.
Phra Mondop.
The Bot
The Bot or Usobot, is the ordination hall. The usobot of Wat Po has a magnificent altar and a large Buddha image.
The Buddha image at the usobot.
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