Wat Pho Wat Pho, also known to travellers as ‘Temple of the Reclining Buddha’, is one of Thailand’s oldest and most illustrious temples. Built on a former holy site by King Rama I, Wat Pho is considered a first-class royal temple. The history behind its prestige dates back to when Thailand’s old capital city, Ayutthaya, had been encroached and captured by Burmese invaders. Upon being captured, King Thaksin moved Thailand’s capital to Thonburi and placed his royal palace in close proximity of the holy site immediately elevating it to the status of Thailand’s Royal Monastery. Wat Pho as we know it today was largely built by King Rama I’s efforts when he moved former King Thaksin’s palace to be adjacent to the temple's grounds. During that time, the site required wholesome renovations as it had been largely neglected and left to lay in ruins. During its reconstruction, King Rama I ordered the collection of Buddha images and artefacts from the previously invaded lands in order to relocate them to Wat Pho. This is the primary reason behind Wat Pho being host to Thailand’s largest Buddha collection including the famous 46 metre long reclining Buddha. Wat Pho’s grounds span over an area of 80,000 square metres and is home to over 1,000 Buddha statues and images. The grounds are filled with cultural artefacts including the reclining Buddha, which is known to be one of the world’s largest. Amongst the temple lies an additional; 91 small chedis (spires), 4 large chedis, 2 belfries, a central shrine, multiple hallways filled with statues, a variety of pavilions, several gardens, and small temple museum. Wat Pho is a great addition to a list of things to see in Bangkok. The temple grounds are simply massive. It has so much history and culture to offer that it takes several hours to cover everything end-to-end. Visiting this temple is highly recommended by Shanti Lodge as it provides a very memorable experience. It is enjoyable individually, as a family, and in groups. Wat Pho is located near the banks of the Chao Phraya River (Add link) and lies adjacent to The Grand Palace. It is open between the times of 8:00 AM and 17:00 PM. The temple’s grounds can easily be accessed by riverboat for a mere 15 Baht from Thewet Pier (5-minute walk from Shanti). Travellers can also opt to go by Taxi or Tuk-Tuk with the ride expected to take approximately 15 minutes and cost between 70 - 100 Baht.