Monday, February 9, 2009

Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand

Lan Than, Chinese Rock Giants (Left and Right) with weapons in hand and wearing a tight suite of armor, Marco Polo, Chinese Giant in European cloth (middle).

Wat Pho, also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand, located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. It is one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok.
There are 16 sheltered gates to the sacred quarter. Each sheltered gate has a crown-like spire decorated with multicolored mosaic bowls cut into petals.
Such decoration can be found all around this monastery, and it was said that this architectural design specially pleased King Rama III. Passing through any of the sheltered gate you will see Chinese rock giants holding weapons in hands, standing on both sides as the gate guardians known as "Lan Than the Dvarapala".

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