Wat Pho – History in English
Wat Pho, officially named Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, is one of the oldest and most significant Buddhist temples in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Phra Nakhon District, near the Grand Palace.
The temple was originally built during the Ayutthaya period and was known as Wat Photaram. After the founding of Bangkok as the capital of Thailand in 1782, King Rama I ordered the restoration and expansion of the temple. It was completed in 1801 and became the royal temple of the king.
Wat Pho is best known for housing the Reclining Buddha, a massive statue that is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, covered in gold leaf. The soles of the Buddha’s feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl illustrations of auspicious symbols.
Under King Rama III, the temple underwent further restoration and expansion. It became a center of education for traditional Thai medicine and massage. In fact, Wat Pho is considered Thailand’s first public university, offering knowledge in religion, science, and literature. Today, it remains a center for traditional Thai massage, and the temple still operates a famous massage school.
Wat Pho is recognized as a UNESCO Memory of the World site for its historic inscriptions and knowledge preserved in stone tablets.
