Wat Pho, a photo from Bangkok, Central

Photographer's Note

One in a series of pictures taken in the Wat Pho temple complex in Bangkok during a holiday in Thailand.

Some information taken from a longer article in Wikipedea:

Wat Pho is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan.

It is named after a monastery in India where Buddha is believed to have lived. Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions. An enormous Buddha image from Ayuthaya's Wat Phra Si Sanphet was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, King Rama I (1782-1809 A.D.) incorporated its fragments to build a temple to enlarge and renovate the complex. The complex underwent many changes in the next 260 years. Under King Rama III (1824-1851 A.D.), plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple. These received recognition in the Memory of the World Programme launched by UNESCO on February 21, 2008. Adjacent to the building housing the Reclining Buddha is a small raised garden, the centrepiece being a bodhi tree which is propagated from the original tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting enlightenment. The temple was created as a restoration of an earlier temple on the same site, Wat Phodharam, with the work beginning in 1788. The temple was restored and extended in the reign of King Rama III, and was restored again in 1982.

Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 80,000 square metres). It is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images of 160 ft length, the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiya)

The complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Soi Chetuphon running east–west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found. The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school.

Outside the temple, the grounds contain 91 chedis (stupas or mounds), four viharas (halls) and a bot (central shrine). 71 chedis of smaller size contains the ashes of the royal family, and 21 large ones contain the ashes of Buddha. The four chedis are dedicated to the four Chakri kings. The temple has sixteen gates around the complex guarded by Chinese giants carved out of rock. These statues were originally imported as ballast on ship trading with China. The outer cloister has images of 400 Buddhas out of the 1200 originally bought by king Rama V. These are varied in different styles and postures, but these are evenly mounted on matching gilded pedestals. The main temple is raised in marble platform punctuated by mythological lions in the gateways. The exterior balustrade has around 150 depictions of the epic, Ramakien, the ultimate message of which is transcendence from secular to spiritual dimensions.

besnard, SnapRJW, Royaldevon, timecapturer, tedesse, jhm, Noel_Byrne, Sonata11, pierrefonds, Graal, ourania, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

besnard (48813) 2013-03-10 0:54

Bonjour Stephen
Un joli panoramique très réussi dans ce pays enchanteur que j'ai eu le plaisir de visiter voici de nombreuses années.
Merci pour le rappel de bons souvenirs et bon dimanche.
Nicole

marabu61 (3952) 2013-03-10 1:16

Hello Stephen
Ah, good old Wat Po, such a photographers heaven. I rembeber these chedis quite well.
Good use of wide angle lens, giving a almost panoramic impression of this square in Wat Po. The chedis are well placed and the whole picture is nicely framed.
have a good sunday
Daniel

SnapRJW (18792) 2013-03-10 1:21

Hello Stephen - Welcome back, I hope you has a great holiday in Thailand. Bangkok is up in my list of favourite cities; a place I never tire of with so much life and fascinating things to see. I love Wat Pho, never mind that is often crowded and teeming with sightseers, I am one too so one has to grin and bare it! You have managed to find a quiet corner and your shot shows off the familiar roof detail really well and the group of chedis in the FG complete the scene. I look forward to seeing more shots from this wonderful country. Warm regards rosemary

Royaldevon (17811) 2013-03-10 1:31

Hello Stephen,

I'm sure you had a most enjoyable and interesting holiday. I've never been to Thailand but both my children were captivated by its diversity and sense of adventure.
This IS so different from what we would see at home. It is beautifully balanced, sharp and with a good sense of depth.

Have a lovely Sunday,
Bev :-)

lousat (57724) 2013-03-10 1:34

Salut Steph,je suis content de te retrouver ici,je vois que toi aussi as fait un beau voyage au chaud...ehehe....magnifique ouverture de la serie thailandaise avec ce temple,les details ne sont pas au top mais l'espace que TE nous donne est vraiment petit..ehehe..excellents couleurs et exposition et magnifique architechture.Mes compliments et bon Dimanche,Luciano

ikeharel (37424) 2013-03-10 3:22

Hello Stephen,
Now I recon where you been last few weeks, beautiful view over temples complex in Bangkok.
A unique orange colored roof, and interesting small pagodas.
Lovely,
Ike

timecapturer (30394) 2013-03-10 4:03

Hi Stephen
wondered where you had disappeared to! This is a magical looking place full of fascinating and elegant lines. A superbly chosen POV and panoramic effect with beautifully harmonious colours. Captivating and eye-catching imagery!

Enjoy your Sunday - regards Brian.

tedesse (22134) 2013-03-10 4:47

Hello Stephen!
Wonderful postcard from Bangkok, temple of Wat Pho.
Excellent POV and composition, wonderful colors and good sharpness.
I cordially greet
Tadeusz

Fis2 (73146) 2013-03-10 4:54

Witaj Stephen!
A very interesting object.
I like frame and colors.
Very impressive picture.
Good work.
Have a nice afternoon.
Krzysztof

jhm (122490) 2013-03-10 4:56

Hello Stephen,

Thank you very much for your interesting notes.
The chedis are well placed and the whole picture is nicely framed.
I can real enjoy through your excellent angle this gives depth and perspective.
Composition and presentation are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John

williewhistler (7317) 2013-03-10 5:12

Hello Stephen. Welcome back,the panoramic format suits the subject very well,with lots of interest in a strong composition it`s a lovely travel shot.
Best regards Les.

siudzi (23959) 2013-03-10 5:44

Hi Stephen,
The temple with all unique decorations and design looks extremely beautiful and interesting. Good shot taken with good quality and horizontal composition. Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Gosia

Sergiom (39336) 2013-03-10 5:51

Bonjour Stephen

Je comprends maintenant ton absence de TE. Un beau voyage en Thaïlande pour gonfler ton bassin d'images. J'aime beaucoup ce plan large qui mets en évidence ce très beau temple par une très belle journée.

Amicalement

Serge

saxo042 (31802) 2013-03-10 5:58

Hi Stephen,
So this is where you have been! Looks like you have had an interesting holiday and now can look forward to many fine and exotic picturres, like this one. A very interesting motive and very attractive colours.
Kind regards
Gunnar

Noel_Byrne (7450) 2013-03-10 8:34

hi Stephen
You really chose a perfect view point here, to get the ideal angle on the building as well the perfect central view of the beautiful stupas. I love the tree to left as well.
As we are looking slightly up in the shot, it does give the place that sense of majesty and awe. Really nice, thanks
All the best
Noel

cornejo (18130) 2013-03-10 11:59

Salut Stephen très bonne image de ces bâtiments intéressants du temple, magnifiquement tourné avec une grande pov avec une bonne composition. Une image intéressante avec une netteté, une bonne profondeur, la lumière et la couleur. Très bon travail et agréable parfaitement réalisé, bravo mon ami. Merci de partager ce travail intéressant.

Bonne soirée et début heureux de la semaine.
Salutations chaleureuses du sud de l'Espagne.
Angel.

Sonata11 (28391) 2013-03-10 15:18

Hello Stephen,
very interesting orchitecture of Bangkok during a holiday in Thailand. Stunning composition with beautiful symmetry with splendid colors, sharpness, light. I relly love this picture. Fantastic photo work. Tfs.
All the best and have a nice Sunday,
Barbara

Nicou (97811) 2013-03-10 23:22

Hello
quel beau temple merveilleux quelle vue cette architecture avec ces toits colorés superbe captage et mise en valeur merveilleux.
Bravo et amitié

Nicou

Silvio1953 (98259) 2013-03-11 14:47

Ciao Stephen, great view of fantastic architecture, fine details, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (48387) 2013-03-11 17:42

Hi Stephen,

The trees are framing well the temple. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the architecture of the Wat Pho temple. The good luminosity is bringing out the beauty of the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Graal (88982) 2013-03-12 0:30

Bonjour Stephen,
great trip you had. An interesting view of temple complex. Nice panoramic composition and presentation. Amazing architecture. Photo I like.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

ourania (12469) 2013-03-15 14:29

Hello Stephen,
I like very much the layout of this composition in a panoramic frame as well as the dynamic way the long building of the background and the sky seem to expand around the elegant shrines. The tight framing makes this dynamism more effective. The sense of depth is superb and the light and colour management has produced intriguing colours, contrasts and atmosphere. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely weekend,
Ourania

Cricri (86535) 2013-03-16 6:38

Hi Stephen
Bon format pano, des temples magnifiques, bien rendue des couleurs et détails par une bonne lumière, un coin plus désertique que près du Palace
Belle journée
cricri

macjake (39235) 2013-03-21 11:15

Hi Stephen
nice to see you back on TE again, and I'm back as well as i was away for almost 2 weeks.
You have alot of thailand photo's i see!
Now I know why you were away :)
looks like you had nice weather too, always a bonus.
this is a smartly balanced scene, well layed out inside the frame.
well done my friend
cheers
Craig