Thailand’s famous Temple of the Reclining Buddha has gained further global prominence following a 45-minute tour by U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during their November 18-19 visit to the kingdom.
Known as “Wat Pho”, the historic Bangkok landmark was the first stop on President Obama’s itinerary after his arrival on November 18, where he was personally escorted and guided by the Abbot, Phra Suthee Thammanuwat.
Widely televised in the U.S. and around the world, the President’s tour included four key locations – the principal hall; the pavilion housing the Reclining Buddha; the main stupa; and the Contorted Hermit Mount, where hermit statues in traditional exercise postures are on display.
It was particularly significant because Thailand was the first foreign country visited by President Obama following his historic re-election, and making the temple his first stop was considered a gesture of respect and friendship towards the Thai people.
Located right next to the Grand Palace, another popular tourist icon, Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest temples in Bangkok. The total area of 80,000 square metres houses more than 1,000 Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images, the 46-metre-long Reclining Buddha.
It is considered the first public university of Thailand, teaching students in the fields of religion, science and literature through murals and sculptures.
The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage since the 1955 establishment of a school for traditional medicine and massage inside the temple grounds. The school helps keep alive the long-standing wisdom of Thai traditional healthcare in terms of herbal recipes, diagnosis and treatment of general ailments, massage inscriptions and drawings, etc.
The temple tour was an initiative of the US Embassy in Bangkok, which felt that starting the tour with a cultural touch would be most appropriate. “The temple and Thailand would like to thank U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney for helping to choose the temple, which has certainly helped bolster Thailand’s reputation,” Deputy Abbot Phra Udornkanarak was quoted as saying in one media report.
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