Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit - Luxury hotel - Wat Pho

Your trip to Bangkok’s old town will not be completed without a visit to Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Bhudda, built on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the 16^th century; Wat Pho is probably the most well-known temple in Bangkok.

Over the centuries Wat Pho has undergone substantial renovations and enlargement, particularly during the reign of King Rama I. At that time, many Buddha images from abandoned temples in Ayutthaya and Sukothai were moved to Wat Pho. Today the temple remains famous for its 46-metre-long golden Reclining Buddha, created in 1832 at the behest of King Rama III. Among the massive figure’s features are 5-metre feet decorated with auspicious Buddhist symbols including flowers, tigers and white elephants. Bowls line walls surrounding the Reclining Buddha and visitors can drop in coins, the money then given to monks who pray for devotees’ wishes to come true.

It’s well worth having a look around the entire temple compound. Wat Pho’s chapels and stupas feature thousands more Buddha images and golden statues, in addition to many Chinese sculptures. Wat Pho is also a great place to experience a traditional Thai massage. Indeed, the temple is site of one of the country’s top schools for massage therapy and other traditional Thai healing practices.

Wat Pho is open to visitors from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Entrance fee is THB 100. A dress code is enforced for some parts of the temple complex; please note link below under Grand Palace and dress accordingly. A visit to both Wat Pho and the Grand Palace is easily done as the two sites are only a 10-minute walk apart. From the hotel, you can get to either by taking BTS SkyTrain from Asok station to Saphan Taksin station, then take a Chao Phraya express boat at Taksin Pier to Tha Tien Pier (No. 9). Otherwise, travel by car takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.