Located near the Royal Grand Palace, the temple of Wat Pho is Bangkok's largest and oldest. More than 1,000 statues of the Buddha pepper the temple grounds. It also houses one of the most memorable attractions of Thailand - the 157-foot Reclining Buddha. This gold-plated statue is also inlaid with mother-of-pearl at the soles. It is truly a breath-taking sight. Visitors to the temple can learn about Thai medicine, one of the country's most ancient arts.

                                                          Royal Grand Palace
Began in 1782, the Royal Grand Palace was timed to be completed for the coronation of King Rama I and was officially opened in 1785 and marked the end of the Burmese invasion into the country. The Palace is actuall composed of a large number of smaller buildings - the most famous of which are the Wat Mahatat (Palace Temple) and the Wat Phra Keow (Royal Chapel). The latter houses the Emerald Buddha, a statue sculpted from a single piece of jade. This is considered as one of the most revered artifacts in the whole country.