What is Wat Pho?
Wat Pho was built by the order of King Rama I, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, a dynasty that continues to this day. The famous Reclining Buddha was built a little later, during the reign of King Rama III.
Wat Pho is also famous as the headquarters of traditional Thai massage. It is said that Thai traditional massage developed after King Rama III had it studied at Wat Pho as part of medical treatment.
Although I did not receive the treatment, it seems possible to receive the treatment inside the temple. According to the website of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, it costs 260 baht (approx. 7.05 USD) for 30 minutes and 420 baht (approx. 11.54 USD) for 60 minutes, so if you have the time, why not try it out?
How to get to Wat Pho
address : 2 Sanam Chai Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Wat Pho will be the adjacent temple almost directly south of the Royal Palace of Thailand. Therefore, it is possible to walk to the temple from Wat Phra Kaeo or the Royal Thai Palace.
The nearest station to Wat Pho is “Sanam Chai” station. It is the most convenient way to reach the temple by train, as the distance from the station to the temple is less than 500 meters in a straight line.
We also recommend using Grab. I used Grab to go to the old town area where Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho are located about 3km away, and it cost about 104 baht (about 2.82 USD).
If you’re staying at a hotel with easy access to the train, it’s best to use the train, otherwise it’s a good idea to use Grab.
Wat Pho entrance fee
The entrance fee to Wat Pho is 300 baht (approximately 8.01 USD).
It seems a little expensive, but the price at Wat Phra Kaew next door is 500 baht (about 13.47 USD), so it feels like a better deal. In addition, Wat Arun, which is also counted as one of the three major temples in Bangkok, costs 200 baht.
It would be a waste to come to Bangkok and stop entering Wat Pho because the entrance fee is expensive. The story will change if the digit changes, but since it is about 6.41 USD, I recommend getting it.
Time required for sightseeing in Wat Pho
It took me 45 minutes to tour Wat Pho. It was a fairly brisk 45 minute walk, so it would be about an hour of normal walking and an hour and a half of leisurely sightseeing.
If you plan to receive an authentic Thai massage, be sure to allow additional time for the massage.
Wat Pho Highlights
The highlight of Wat Pho is, what can I say, the Reclining Buddha! And there was one more thing I felt, so let me introduce each of them in detail.
The Reclining Buddha
The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is very large, measuring 46 meters in length and 15 meters in height. If you compare 46 meters to a building, it would be 14 to 15 stories high, so if you think of it that way, it will be easier to understand the size.
By the way, Wat Pho’s reclining Buddha is said to be the third largest in Thailand. The number one is the Way Bang Phil Yai Klang, which is said to be 53 meters tall.
Also, the charm of the Reclining Buddha is not just its size. The soles of his feet represent the Buddhist cosmology. Moreover, the soles of the feet of the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho are very beautiful. As expected, it is carved with mother-of-pearl, a decoration made from polished shells.
I have seen reclining Buddhas in many countries, but I feel that the soles of Wat Pho’s feet are the most beautiful.
Buddhist statue
Actually, this Buddha statue is one that I personally think is more beautiful than the Reclining Buddha.
At Wat Phra Kaew, we saw the Emerald Buddha, and at Wat Pho there was this Buddha statue. The sight of the believers praying together with the sutra was very sacred and touched my heart.
Incidentally, the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaeo was not allowed to be photographed on the premises, but this one at Wat Pho was (I checked with the local security guard on the premises to be sure).
Cautionary point of Wat Pho
One thing to note about Wat Pho is that wearing anything that exposes a lot of skin, such as camisole or miniskirts, is a no-no. Above is the Wat Pho ticket counter, and the sign in front of it clearly states that.
Please note that you will not be allowed to enter if you wear clothing that exposes too much skin.
Wat Pho Sightseeing Summary
As mentioned above, Wat Pho is a very attractive place. I feel the admission fee is a little high, but I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
The sightseeing time is about 1 hour, so you can see the whole thing relatively quickly. When you come to Bangkok, be sure to visit!
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Wat Pho is one of the three major temples in Bangkok, Thailand. Wat Pho is famous for its large reclining Buddha, but that’s not the only attraction! If you are planning to visit Bangkok, please read till the end.