Bangkok - Wat Pho & Wat Arun

After few days of shopping and eating around Bangkok city, today, we headed to another side of Bangkok, which is around Chao Phraya River. After a fruitful morning at Chinatown, we went for temple hopping!

We would suggest to cover Wat Pho and Wat Arun together, since both temples are closed to each other, separated by one river.

Wat Pho, the temple of Reclining Buddha modelled a brick core 46m long and 15m high Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho's Reclining Buddha is imposing reminder of the Buddha's passing into Nirvana (The Buddha's Death).

Info from Lonely Planet.

There are 108 bronze monk bowls in the temple where you can buy 108 coins to put into the monk bowls for good luck. Besides the giant Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho is famous with Thai massage where there is a Thai massage school here.

The entrance ticket. 100Baht for foreigner, including one bottle of mineral water.

Previous famous visitors of Wat Pho!

Some rules to follow before entering the temple. Don't worry if your attire are too exposed as cloaks are provided for free here.

We need to take off our shoes, put them into bag provided and carry them along.

The Reclining Buddha.

The Buddha's foot is under restoration during our visit.

The view from back.

The bronze monk bowls.

Pay 20Baht and get 108coins for you to put into the monk bowls.

Lovely blue sky :)

From Wat Pho, we walked to the jetty nearby and took a boat to cross the river to Wat Arun, which is located opposite to Wat Pho.

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, it is well-decorated with floral mosaics made from broken Chinese porcelain.

The boat journey is just few minutes and fee is 3Baht per person.

Taken from the boat.

Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn  was under restoration during our visit. We can still go in but cannot climb up to the temple.

The notice.

Dress code and scarf for rent.

We are prohibited to climb up the tower during restoration period.

During our visit, there are some parts of the temple that had completed their restoration work.

Before restoration.

After restoration.

Infamous Chinese porcelain decoration.

Love all details here! Just like puzzle, piece per piece, and formed an art piece.

Fresh look of the temple after restoration work.

We had a great evening here. Pretty impressed with beauty of Wat Arun, till we meet again :)

Wat Pho, Temple of Reclining Buddha

How to go:

i) By taxi

ii) Take MRT to Saphan Taksin station and walk down to Chao Phraya River Express Boat Pier. Take boat and get down at Tha Tien Pier (N8).

Entrance fee: 100Baht

Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn

How to go:

i) From Wat Pho, take a boat to across the river. Fee: 3Baht.

ii)  Take MRT to Saphan Taksin station and walk down to Chao Phraya River Express Boat Pier. Take boat and get down at Tha Tien Pier (N8). Take another express boat to cross the river.

Entrance fee: 50Baht