Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn, is different from other temples in Bangkok both for its Khmer-style aesthetic and for its location on the bank of the river that runs through the city.
On the western bank of the Chao Phraya River is Wat Arun, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand, opposite the Royal Grand Palace and the Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha).
To get there, the easiest thing is to go to the Tha Thien jetty and cross the river with one of the ferries that leave frequently.
The temple was originally named after the village where Wat Makok (Temple of the Olive) was located and its construction dates from the time that Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand.
Later, Thonburi became the capital and King Taksin changed the temple’s name to Wat Chaeng. The current name Wat Arunratchawararam was given by King Rama IV.
Khmer style reaches 82 meters high representing Mount Meru, home of the god Shiva and the Olympus of the gods. From its terraces we can enjoy extraordinary views of Bangkok and on its side towers there are statues of the god of the wind Phra Phai. The decoration of the Wat Arun is dominated by seashells and pieces of porcelain from ship ballast.
Wat Arun is one of the essential images of any Bangkok guide and it is a pleasure to observe it at dusk from the river as an indelible memory climbing its endless steps that as we go up they get narrower and steeper. I am well aware of the feeling I experienced when I was about to start the descent from the top.
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