Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn

 Situated on the western bank of the Chao Phraya watercourse, the temple complicated Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, is taken into account to be one in all the foremost lovely in Krung Thep. Wat Arun is noted for its 80-meter-high prang – the tower, in-built the design of the legendary temple complicated Angkor Wat in Asian nation – and is reckoned among the foremost noted Buddhist temples within the capital. it's its peculiar silhouette that adorns most postcards with Krung Thep image.
Its history goes back to the year 1767, once the final Taksin enraptured from Ayutthaya, the previous capital of Siam, that was destroyed by the Burmese, to the mouth of the Chao Phraya watercourse. He pronounced himself a king and set to lift a replacement capital there. At constant time, he ordered to make the temple complicated, named when the god of the rising sun Aruna. Wat Arun remained country’s main temple throughout all fifteen years of Taksin’s reign. ulterior rulers of Asian nation repeatedly enlarged the temple: therefore, King Rama II accrued the peak of the central tower so as to form complex’s look additional majestic. the ultimate look of the Temple of Dawn was fashioned in Rama IV time.

 Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn

Wat Arun’s most unforgettable construction is that the grandiose prang that towers within the center of the complicated and symbolizes the holy Mount Meru, that is seen because the center of all material and non secular universes in Buddhism. The tower attracts attention not solely by its monumental dimensions however conjointly by its original décor. Its tiers ar finished with thousands of colourful dust of china and ceramic tiles. In those days, Thai ships carried rice and different foods to China and, so as to not come back empty, loaded holds with tableware and its fragments, additionally as stone statues of warriors, gods and animals on the method back. They were then accustomed adorn temples.

Outer stone steps cause 2 terraces, placed on the highest of the prang. They reveal marvellous panoramas of Krung Thep. The steps ar steep and slim, that symbolizes difficulties in accomplishment of the highest levels of existence. Four niches with sculptures of Buddha in four painting states – birth, enlightenment, beginning before of individuals and accomplishment of nirvana – ar placed on the lower terrace. The god Indra sits on the three-headed elephant in a very special niche on the higher terrace. Four smaller prang circle the central tower. The equestrian statues of the god of wind Vayu change their niches.
Wat Arun appearance wonderful at dawn, once its main tower reflects the primary rays of the sun, as if thousands of little mirrors. it's a spectacle of rare beauty. However, the temple is as lovely at sunset and in the dead of night, once its elegant prang ar well-lighted by colourful lights, too.
Vivid shows, throughout that the history of Wat Arun is told to the sound of Thai music, ar organized next to the complicated nightly in spring and summer.
Getting there. Take a ferry outward from the pier No. eight within the eye.