After leaving The Grand Palace - Bangkok behind we walked through a local market to see The Reclining Buddha that is in the same vicinity. A short ten minute stroll that took us longer as we browsed the stalls and I took photos.
We soon arrived at Wat Pho
The reclining Buddha is 15 m high and 43 m long with his right arm supporting the head of tight curls is supported on blue box pillows encrusted with glass mosaics. The 3 m high and 4.5 m long foot of the Buddha is inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The panels, around the Buddha display the auspicious symbols by which Buddha can be identified like flowers, dancers, white elephants, tigers and altar accessories. Over the statue is a seven tiered umbrella representing the authority of Thailand. There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor indicating the 108 auspicious characters of Buddha, where people drop coins as it is believed to bring good fortune, as well as helping the monks maintain the temple.
It is worth taking time to look around the rest of the complex as although there is lots more to see. Unfortunately many tourists only take time to view the main attraction of the Reclining Buddha and therefore miss out on soaking up the rest of the atmosphere.
I hope you have enjoyed your virtual visit today. I have included some further information and links in case you are planning your own trip, or just wish to learn a little more about Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha.
Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
Phone:+66 2 226 0335
The following website links may also be of interest.
All photos are my own taken in October 2011.
More photos from this trip may also be viewed individually in the collection entitled
