Wat Pho - Temple of the Reclining Buddha

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (as it is known in English) occupies the north-west corner of the compound. Inside the specially constructed wiharn lies an enormous reclining figure of the Buddha, 45 m (148 ft) long and 15 m (48 ft) high. Because the wiharn is narrow, it is quite impossible to take in the statue as a whole, attention having to be focused more on its detail, e.g. the finely curved lines of the face. The soles of the feet, inlaid with a myriad of precious stones, are particularly interesting, being decorated with the 108 signs of true faith. Also noteworthy are the long earlobes signifying noble birth and the lotus-bud configuration of the hand, a recurring symbol of purity and beauty.