Bangkok, the Thai capital, is one of the most visited and internationally known Asian cities. Here we find a very lively nightlife, incredible places of recreation, fantastic gastronomy and various curiosities. The most interesting of them all is in the Wat Pho Temple, and it is the sculpture of the Reclining Buddha, the largest in the country.
Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a nation with a long history. Until the seventeenth century, the most important city in the region was Ayutthaya, but this was the victim of wars, sieges and looting.
To protect the treasures of the ancient capital, the Thai king, Rama I, decided that they should be transferred to Bangkok. The place chosen to house them was the Wat Pho Temple.
As the years passed, this Buddhist shrine gained more and more notoriety, which is why it was expanded on several occasions, in order to improve its facilities. However, Wat Pho would not be as well known if it were not for its Reclining Buddha, which not only has great religious significance, but is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Thailand.
As its name implies, the Reclining Buddha is a sculpture that represents Buddha, who is reclining while resting his head on his arm. This is not the only statue of its kind, but it is the most notorious.
This is due to its immense size, since the Reclining Buddha measures no more and no less than 46 meters long. Likewise, this sculpture is covered in gold leaf, and adorned with precious jewels.
In addition, the statue is so large, that it covers almost the entire surface in which it is located, leaving only two small and narrow corridors at its sides, that function as access routes for the thousands of faithful and visitors who come to Wat Pho each year.
As for the temple, it has a typical appearance of Thai Buddhism, and it is divided into two sections. One that contains most of the treasures of the sanctuary, and is open to the public, while the other serves as a residence for the monks who live in the temple.
Likewise, Wat Pho is closely related to the traditional beliefs of Buddhism, since its name refers to the tree where Buddha sat to meditate and reached spiritual enlightenment.
The most common activity for those who visit the Wat Pho temple is to approach the huge statue of the Reclining Buddha and admire it from the proximity. Similarly, the Buddhist faithful take the opportunity to bring offerings and give alms.
However, there is much more to do and see at Wat Pho, as this is also the headquarters of the School of Traditional Medicine, considered one of the first universities in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Here you can enjoy a typical Thai massage, while learning a little more about local beliefs, and how they blend with Buddhism. So if you want to say that you visited Bangkok, do not hesitate to schedule a visit to the mythical temple Wat Pho.
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