Bangkok insights
All traveling needs before visit Thailand
Wat Pho is one of the most pleasant places to visit in Bangkok, The reclining Buddha is beautiful. As the Wat also hosts the oldest traditional Thai massage school. It is really close to the Grand Palace just 10 minutes walk. Now travelers can also visit Wat Pho at night, the atmosphere is dramatically contrasted to the time they saw it in the daytime.
Wat Pho, the official name being Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn , is a first grade royal monastery, regarded as the most important one during the reign of King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty. The importance of this is due to the King having managed the restoration of Wat Phodharam, an old monastery from the Ayutthaya period, and had it re-established as a royal monastery located near the Grand Palace. Some ashes of King Rama I were also kept under the pedestal of the principal Buddha image known as Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn in the main chapel.
The great restoration, having taken 16 years and 7 months, was done during the reign of King Rama III, by extending both the South Vihara and West Vihara where the large reclining Buddha image is kept, the Missakawan Park, Phra Mondob (Library Hall) and teaching-learning hall as they are of today.
The main elements of the temple are as follows:
1. Ubosot |
3. Main Stupas |
|
4. Phra Mondop |
5. The Gallery |
|
|
|
1. Ubosot that houses the Main Buddha
The Ubosot, the heart of the temple,l was built in the reign of King Rama I in Ayutthaya style. It was then reconstructed and enlarged during the reign of King Rama III. All sheltered windows and doors are made of hard wood with crown–like spires and colour-glazed tiles. Inlays of mother–of–pearl on the outer side of the entrance door panels depict episodes from the Ramakien (the Thai version of the Ramayana – the world famous Indian epic); while on the inner side are painted specimens of ecclesiastical fans of rank which are presented to the monk sovereigns.
 |
 |
 |
The principal Buddha image is “Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn” in a gesture of seated Buddha on a three tiered pedestal, and some ashes of King Rama I are kept under the pedestal. The mural paintings in the hall depict Mahosatha Pandita (The Great Bachelor of Mithila City), The heavens, and Phra Etadagga a disciple. On the middle tier there are two images of the Original Disciples, while the eight effigies of the Holy Priests stand on the lowest pedestal. Inside panels of the windows are decorated with lacquer work of the seals of these monastery dignitaries (in the reign of king Rama III).
2. The Reclining Buddha
The Wihara of the Reclining Buddha or Phra Buddhasaiyas (Wiharn Phranorn), the building is constructed for containing the important Buddha image, the Reclining Buddha. After having noulded the image of the Reclining Buddha, the team continued with the hall.The image was made of stuccoed bricks gilded with gold leaves. This statue is 46 metres long, with the dimensions at the face of 15 metres high and at each foot of 3 metres high and 5 metres long.
The soles of the statue's feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl showing the 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha. This is the largest and most beautiful piece of fine arts of the Buddha image in a reclining position found in Thailand.
The mother of pearl inlay at the feet of the image is of Thai-Chinese style, as indicated by 108 auspicious signs portraying natural scenes of both Indian and Chinese influences.
On the inner wall of this vihara decorated of the mural paintings of three topics: “Mahawong” (Historical annals of Ceylon) up the windows; “13 Savida Atadagga Disciples (Priestess)”, “10 Upasaka Atadagga Disciples” and “10 Upasika Atadagga Disciples” between each window
3. Phra Maha Chedi (The Main Stupas of 4 reigns)
Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn , a group of four hugh pagodas surrounded by white wall with Thai-Chinese style sheltered gates decorated with colour-glazed tiles and Chinese rockeries guardians. Each pagoda is 42 metres high, twelve or added notched-rim structures ending in a tall spire and elaborated with colourful mosaics.
The first of the fourth stupa with green tile mosaic named Phra Maha Chedi Sri Sanpetdayarn, constructed during the reign of King Rama I to cover the ruined image of Buddha ‘Phra Srisanpetch. The ruined standing Buddha is 16 metres high and was brought from the ruined Royal Palace in Ayutthaya. This stupa represents the reign of King Rama I.
 |
 |
 |
Phra Maha Chedi Dilok Dhammakaroknitarn, the one with white-tile mosaic representing the reign of King Rama II, was built by his son, King Rama III.
He also built the yellow tile mosaic stypa, Phra Maha Chedi Muni Batborikharn, for representing his own reign and for the praise of Buddha.
The last one, in dark blue tile mosaic, represents the reign of King Rama IV or King Mongkut. It was built in the same style as Phra Maha Chedi Song Phra Srisuriyothai of the Ayutthaya period with the purpose of a praise for the Lord Buddha.
King Mongkut also ordered all four stupas to be enclosed and surrounded with the boundary so as to leave no space for more stupas, as these four Kings of the Chakri Dynasty were alive and met each other in the same period of time, and no more stupa was required.
Warning: require(../../talkback/comments.php) [function.require]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/bangkoki/public_html/bangkok-sights/temples-in-bangkok/watpho-reclining-buddha-temple.php on line 267
Warning: require(../../talkback/comments.php) [function.require]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/bangkoki/public_html/bangkok-sights/temples-in-bangkok/watpho-reclining-buddha-temple.php on line 267
Fatal error: require() [function.require]: Failed opening required '../../talkback/comments.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/bangkoki/public_html/bangkok-sights/temples-in-bangkok/watpho-reclining-buddha-temple.php on line 267