| What makes it historical? |
There’s been a temple on this site since the 1600s AD, though it was refurbished, expanded, and renamed by King Rama I when he moved the Thai kingdom from Ayutthaya to Bangkok in 1788! Originally called Wat Photaram (“Wat Pho”), its official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn (“the temple of the Reclining Buddha”)!
That 151-foot, gold-plated Buddha was installed by Rama III during his 16-year expansion program, starting in 1832. During that time, he also made Wat Pho Thailand’s first center for public education! Inscribed on granite slabs here is a plethora of texts and diagrams about history, medicine, language, Buddhism, and more! Even today, the school at Wat Pho is the national headquarters for learning traditional Thai medicine and massage!
There are four particularly important chedis (stupas) here. The first houses pieces of the great Buddha of Ayutthaya, which had been badly damaged when the Burmese sacked the ancient city. The second holds the ashes of Rama II, and the third, fittingly, holds the ashes of Rama III. The fourth was built by Rama IV to praise the Buddha and to seal off the area so no more chedis could be built! Rama IV, also known as Mongkut, was the king featured in the musical The King and I! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? |
HERE’S HOW:
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
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