Wat Arun the "Temple of the Dawn" in Bangkok

Because of its riverside location Wat Arun is one of the best known of Thailand's landmark. The temple is locally known as Wat Chaeng and also called “Temple of the Dawn”, because of it's absolutely stunning at sunset, particularly when lit up at night. Majestically its towering over the water of the Chao Phraya River.  Uncountable tiny pieces of coloured glass and Chinese porcelain were placed delicately into intricate patterns decorated spires.

The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II (*1767, †1824). A Buddhist temple had existed at the site of Wat Arun since the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was then known as Wat Makok, after the village of Bang Makok in which it was situated. According to the historian Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the temple was shown in French maps during the reign of King Narai (1656--1688). The temple was renamed Wat Chaeng by King Taksin when he established his new capital of Thonburi near the temple, following the fall of Ayutthaya. 

The temple enshrined the Emerald Buddha image before it was transferred to Wat Phra Kaew on the river's eastern bank in 1785 and was located in grounds of the royal palace during Taksin's reign , before his successor, Rama I, moved the palace to the other side of the river. It was abandoned for a long period of time until Rama II, who restored the temple and extended the pagoda to 70m.

Location: Bangkok Yai district, on the west bank (Thonburi) of the Chao Phraya River, almost directly opposite Wat Pho.

Opening hours:

Daily from 08:30 AM to 05:30 PM

Detail of the Phra Prang, the central tower of the Wat Arun,

showing Indra on his three-headed elephant Erawan (Airavata).