Dwell
with us and visit the majestic Reclining Buddha that measures 46 metres
long and is covered in gold leaf! Just a matter of few minutes from
Centre Point Silom Bangkok http://www.centrepoint.com/CentrePointSilom/PageHotel.aspx

Opening hours: Daily 8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Admission: 100 baht
History -
Wat Pho, the official name being Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm
Rajwaramahaviharn, is the first grade royal monastery, regarded as the
most important one during the reign of King Rama I of the Chakri
Dynasty. The importance of this is due to the King having managed the
restoration of Wat Phodharam, an old monastery from the Ayudhya period,
and had it re-established as a the royal monastery located near the
Grand Palace. Some ashes of King Rama I were also kept under the
pedestal of the principal Buddha image known as Phra Buddha Theva
Patimakorn in the main chapel.
The monastery is located in an area of 20 acres to the south of the
Grand Palace, with Thai Wang road in the north, Sanam Chai road in the
east, Setthakan road in the south and Maharat road in the west.
Separated by a tall white wall on Chetuphon road, the monastery has two
main quarters: the sacred or a chapel section, Buddhavas, and the
residential or the monk’s living section, Sangghavas.
It is said in a stone inscription that, after moving to the Grand
Palace, King Phra Buddha Yod Fa The Great (King Rama I) recognized that
there were 2 old temples along both sides of the Grand Palace: Wat Salak
(Wat Mahatart) in the north, and Wat Phodharam in the south. He ordered
his noblemen from the department of the Ten Crafts to restore Wat
Phodharam in 1788. This first restoration took 7 years 5 months and 28
days. Then there was a celebration in 1801 and the Royal named it “Wat
Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklavas”, which was changed to “Wat Phra
Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm” during the reign of King Rama IV.
The great restoration, having taken 16 years and 7 months, was done
during the reign of King Rama III, by extending both the South Vihara
and West Vihara where the large reclining Buddha image is kept, the
Missakawan Park, Phra Mondob (Library Hall) and teaching-learning hall
as they are of today. Although there was another restoration before the
Bangkok Bicentennial Celebration in 1982, no more other major work has
been done on the monastery, except for some minor repairs.
Source: http://www.watpho.com/history_of_watpho.php