Wat Arun Bangkok, Temple of Dawn

Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on February 25th, 2011 filed in Sightseeing

If you love historical architectural sites and you are Bangkok, then Wat Arun is also locally known as the Wat Chaeng is worth a visit as it is believed that fighting his way out of Ayutthaya, King Taksin arrived at this temple just as dawn was breaking and it was designed by a Burmese army at the time. This temple is situated on the (Thonburi) bank of Chao Phraya River.

He later had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the Temple of the Dawn. During his reign (Thonburi Period), Wat Chaeng was the chief temple, and it once enshrined the Emerald Buddha and another important Buddha image, the Phra Bang, both of which had been removed from Vientiane.

The temple flourished throughout the Rattanakosin period and the beauty of the architecture and the fine craftsmanship made it declare the status as the temple of first grade and one of most outstanding in Thailand. The spire (prang) of Wat Arun on the bank of Chao Phraya River is one of Bangkok’s world famous landmarks because it has an imposing spire (prang) over 70 meters high which is beautifully decorated with tiny pieces of colored glass and Chinese porcelain placed delicately into intricate patterns and although, it is known as the temple of dawn, it is absolutely stunning at sunset.

You can get there by yourself from any pier in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River by private small boat or you can book it from any of the many tour operators in Bangkok or you can book it through the concierge, if you are staying in one of the major Bangkok hotels.