Wat Phra Chetuphon, or "Wat Po", is well known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, as well as being Thailand's first "open" University. After present Chakri Dynasty in 1782, HM the King had a royal instruction to restore Wat Po to be the first grade of royal monastery. From the great restoration during King Rama I and King Rama III, Wat Po came to be the center of Thai Arts and Knowledge where the wisdom of Thai Traditional Medicine and Massage were gathered from the ancestors and is still passed on today, e.g. instruction of herbal drug recipes, diagnosis and treatment for general ailments, baby illnesses and healing methods, massage inscriptions and drawings, Ascetic statues etc.
Being the base of Thai Medicine, Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School was opened in 1955 inside Wat Po. It is the first Thai Medical School under the approval of Thai Ministry of Education. The school presently offers 4 basic courses of Thai Medicine that are Thai Pharmacy, Thai medical practice, Thai Midwife Nurse and Thai Massage.
Wat Po TTM is acknowledged worldwide and the school's original Thai Traditional Massage treatment and training course that is sometimes referred to as Wat Po massage. A large number of Thai and foreign students that graduate from the school participate in Thai Massage as well as enter into the spa business all over the world.