Wat Arun

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Growing up I passed this temple countless times on my way to my high school by the river boat -(my high school is right on the river bank, how cool is that!!) But I had never paid much attention in details until I had my quest to visit many temples in Bangkok as many as I can.

Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn is situated on the west bank of Chao Praya River. Its name came from the reflection of the morning sun on the Khmer style stupa – “Arun” means dawn in Thai . Not just in the morning, the sight of this temple from afar is still amazing anytime of day. It has become one of the most well known and most photograhped landmarks in Bangkok.

Only a few minutes ride on a river ferry from Tha Thian Pier on the Royal Palace side, I reached the temple pier. Walking around the temple doesn’t cost anything but to go into the stupa, it’ll cost you some fee if you’re a foreigner. The main stupa is 67 metre (220 ft) tall and surrounded by smaller ones on four corners. When you are up there ,take a closer look at the facade of the stupa, they were decorated by seashell, colorful tiles and broken pieces of porcelains.

Giand figures at the base of stupa, as if they are holding the stupa up.

closer look — Closer look at the facade, made from procelains

You can take the central stairway up to the first and second terrace at the base of the main stupa. Be cautious that these steps are treacherously narrow and very steep. So if you are afraid of height, you should not attempt. But if you’re not, hang onto the rail for dear life and when you make it up there, the view of Chao Praya river and Grand Palace from above is pretty worth climbing up.

View of Chao Praya River and Royal Palace from the top terrace

Legend of the Giants

On the temple ground, there are two famous Guardian Giant statues. According to the Thai legend, the Giants of Temple of Dawn were the arch- enemy of the Guardian Giants of Wat Pho which located across the river. Their battle caused the area between the two temples to wipe out of trees and buildings. The King God was furious and cursed them as stone statue guarding the temples forever. The wipe out battle area became known as ‘Tha Tien’ ,translated as ‘wipe out’ pier.

The Guardian Giant from the legend of Tah Tien

This was the first time I took a closer look of this magnificant architecture after all these years. This place makes me admire the effort and creativity that put into the facade of the stupa. How the number of small and broken pieces (those were donated from the citizen) came together and created a beautiful art piece.

All in all, something you see beautiful already. You might be surprised when you take a closer look and find something even more beautiful.

Have you visited Wat Arun in Bangkok? What do you think?

**Update** The temple has gone a makeover in 2018. The facade and the mosaic on all the stupas have new looks and created quite a controversy among Thai people who feel the temple has lost its charm and characteristics. What do you think of the new look?