Wat Pho

Wat Pho also called as Wat Phra Chetuphon or the "Temple of the Reclining Buddha" is a Buddhist monastery built on the site of a monastery from the Ayutthayan era (1350-1767 AD) and known before as Wat Phodharam. The name of the temple refers to the Bodhi tree, where under Buddha reached enlightenment. As the former monastery stood in the immediate vicinity of the palace, King Rama I had it renovated in 1788 and erected a chedi for the remains of Phra Phuttha Sri Sanphet Dayan. When Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767 the main image of Wat Sri Sanphet, a standing Buddha of 16 meter high on a pedestal of 8 meter wide covered with 800 Lbs of gold, was destroyed by the Burmese. Rama I had the remaining pieces brought to Bangkok in the hope of restoring the image, which finally was found not possible. The shattered remains of the image were then buried under a stupa named Chedi Sri Sanphet Dayan at Wat Pho. This stupa belongs to - what is called today - the Phra Maha Chedi group, consisting of four large chedi. The green colored one in the middle is Chedi Sri Sanphet Dayan. The chedi was later dedicated to Rama I. The area became a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine. The monastery underwent many changes in the Ratanakosin period. The temple was restored and extended in the reign of King Rama III, and was restored again in 1982, year of the bicentennial. Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok. The monastery contains hundreds of Buddha images, as well as one of the largest reclining Buddha called Phra Phuttha Saiyat.

Ayutthaya Historical Research