Wat Pho: The Temple of the Reclining Buddha

For first-timers in Bangkok, Wat Pho is one of the most sought out temples in Bangkok. The anticipation is justified as people line up to visit the massive, reclining golden Buddha.

Similar to Wat Phra Kaew, it is both an active place of worship and a tourist destination. For tourists, this is a place that should not be missed for reasons that are already thoroughly described on the internet.

Here is my quick summary:

It costs 200 baht for entry. You will encounter dual pricing once again as Thais get in free. On the bright side, your purchase comes with a voucher for a free bottle of water, which you will come in clutch on hot days.

Getting to Wat Pho from Wat Phra Kaew and vice versa is easy, because they are so close. It is walkable, but you can also take a tuk-tuk, bus, taxi, etc. Tuk-tuks are widely available and they are the popular, fun choice, but you’ll have to be direct when negotiating down the price and in denying special tour offers from the drivers. It won’t take more than 5 minutes to get from one place to another so hopefully you don’t spend too much baht for the transit. Of course, it depends on the demand and the size of your group.

The Buddha is impressive and it is the highlight. It is difficult to take really good photos due to the pillars and the large number of people, but don’t let that detract from your experience. When you round the feet of the Buddha, you can make a small donation in exchange for quarter-baht coins, which you drop in the procession of luck bowls on the Buddha’s back side. There is an unusual satisfaction of dropping the coins in and hearing their clanks as they land in the bowls.

There is much more to see than just the Buddha. Wat Pho is also the storied birthplace of Thai massage and you can even get a massage on the temple grounds. They also offer courses to learn the art of massage. The campus is large with lots of space to walk around, where you can admire the detail in the art and sculptures, and develop an appreciation for the history and culture.

If you’re visiting Bangkok for a short time, you should hit both Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho in the same day (and Wat Arun!). Especially if your hotel is more in the town, you will want to save time to avoid repeated trips back to the old city.

Some people say they get “temple’d out” so you can always take a break in between and seek out a nice place to sit under the air-con. There are a lot of cool restaurants and cafes, a few markets and museums in the vicinity that are worth checking out.