Home of the longest reclining Buddha in Thailand
Wat Po, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, boasts chedis and viharns, as well as over 1,000 Buddha images, more than any other wat in Bangkok. However, most visitors make a beeline for Wat Po's most famous Buddha: the gigantic Reclining Buddha, a statue over 50 ft. high and 140 ft. across. In this case, Buddha lies on his side in a state of serenity, unsurprising given his amount of bling - gold plating covers the entirety of the body, while mother-of-pearl decorates his eyes and feet.
The Reclining Buddha is only half the story at Wat Po. It is also considered one of Thailand's earliest universities; in lieu of books, monks would use Wat Po's murals and sculptures as teaching tools for lessons in religion, science, and literature. The monastery is still active today. In addition. one of the oldest Thai massage schools in the country can be found on the premises.
