This tourist attraction is located in Bangkok, Thailand. For information on Chiang Mai, go to Bangkok Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Thailand, read also the Thailand Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation in Bangkok? Use the Bangkok Budget Accommodation Map to easily locate the perfect place to spend the night.
Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Bangkok. What makes it so famous is its massive prang (tower). Most sources put its height as between 74-85m, although the Tourism Authority of Thailand describes it as 104m high. It is located at one corner of the wat surrounded by four minor prangs which symbolize the four winds. A blend of Khmer and Thai styles, the main prang supposedly represents Mount Meru, the home of gods and centre of the Buddhist and Hindu cosmos.
Wat Arun.
Wat Arun is located on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river, the original site of the capital before General Phya Taksin moved the capital to Bangkok. It is supposed to be older than Bangkok itself. At that time, it was known as Wat Makok. General Taksin changed its name to Wat Jaeng, which means Temple of Dawn, when he restored it. He intended it to be his private temple, and expelled the monks residing there. They were only allowed back later, during the reign of Rama I, who took over from Taksin.
The Emerald Buddha was housed here after it was seized from Laos, before it was moved to Wat Phra Kaeo.
Rama II and Rama III enlarged the main prang of the temple, and raised it to its present height. Rama II changed its name to Wat Arunratchatharam while Rama III changed its name to Wat Arunratchawanaram.
The wat is bedecked with millions of tiny Chinese porcelain. Some say these come from Chinese boats coming up to Bangkok while others say that these were porcelain donated by the people of Bangkok on the request of King Mongkut (Rama IV) when he renovated Wat Arun.
Although named after Aruna, the Indian god of dawn, Wat Arun is best seen during dusk, not dawn, when the sun is setting behind it. Lucky visitors may get a red sky sunset with the Wat silhouetted before it.
Wat Arun, as seen from the ferry boat on the Chao Phraya.
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