The oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, Wat Pho or wat Phra Chetuphon was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period. The temple was almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I and again a major restoration in 1839 which took 17 years to complete by King Rama III.
'Reclining Buddha', the main attraction of Wat Pho is famous. Built in the reign of King Rama III, this length of Buddha statue is 46 metres and 15 metres high. The statue was to show the Buddha trying to overwhelm one of the powerful demons and to convince him that his power is not the supreme. The figure is modeled out of plaster around a brick core and finished in gold leaf. Mother-of-pearl inlay decorate the eyes and feet about 108 different character of a Buddha. The building was built later to cover the Buddha image. Wat Pho was regarded as 'the first university in Thailand' when King Rama III ordered texts to be inscribed on stone around the temple which people can learn and read from.
The other important building in the compound is the main chapel or Ubosot. That constructed in the reign of King Rama I, the Ubosot was enlarged in the reign of King Rama III. Inside the Ubosot houses an ayutthaya-style bronze Buddha image in the attitude of meditation. King Rama I gave this image a name of Phra Puttha Devapatimok. The base of this image contains the crematory ashes of King Rama I, interred in the reign of King Rama IV
In the four Wihans surrounding the main Ubosot, Phra Puttha Loknat Sasadajan in the eastern part of the compound, is the tallest bronze standing Buddha image, stands in an alcove of the east Wihan. The image was formerly at Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya. It was brought to Bangkok together with Phra Si Sanphet which is now kept inside the great stupa of King Rama I.
Outside the west Wihan, four great stupas called Phra Maha Chedi that are 41 metres high. The four great stupas were built on three separate occasions. The first stupa was built in the reign of King Rama I to contain Buddha image, Phra Si Sanphet. The second occasion was happened when King Rama III built 2 more stupas on each side of the first one. The white glazed tile on the right was for King Rama II while the yellow one on the left was for his own behalf. The last great stupa in blue tile was built by King Rama IV to memorize his own reign before he ordered that the future King shouldn't built any greater stupa in this temple.
Apart from the four great stupas, there are 4 groups of five stupas which each group stays on the same pedestal and 71 small line stupas. There are a total of 95 stupas of various sizes in the temple compound.
Around the terrace outside the gallery are found 26 rockeries. There were made up from stones moved from the garden in the Grand Palace. Two rockeries are of special interest. The one in front of the great stupas has a 'Siva Lingam’. And the second one is the 'Rishi' figures in posture of self massage.
Apart from the rockeries, Wat Pho has the stone figures from China. The figures have been used as ballast of the sail when the trades with China were made during the reign of King Rama III.
Wat Pho is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage. A massage school convenes in the afternoons at the eastern end of the compound. A Thai traditional message costs 250 baht per hour and 150 baht for a half-hour. The massage courses from five to 10-day courses can be attended for 7,000 Baht.