Wat Pho, the official name being Wat Phra Chetuphon, 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 contained under the pedestal of the principal Buddha image know as Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn in the main chapel.

The Vihara of the Reclining Buddha or Phra Buddhasaiyas (Viharn Phranorn), the building is constructed for containing the important Buddha image, the Reclining Buddha. King Rama III told his son, HRH Prince Laddawan, the head of department of the Ten Crafts as a construction team leader. After having molded the image of the Reclining Buddha, the team continued with the hall. The image was made of stuccoes 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 posture found in Thailand.

Wat Pho is an important landmark in the Rattanakosin area. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful Buddhist fine arts and the existing Thai intellect that has descended from ancient times, taken as immortal careers knowledge.

The monastery is open daily from 8.00-17.00 hrs, with an admission fee of Baht 50. Tourist must be in polite dress, no shorts, although trousers are permitted.