Wat Arun

Wat Arun

A major stop on the Bangkok audio-guided tour, Wat Arun watches over the right bank of the Chao Phraya. Its slender silhouette, dominated by five towers, can be recognised from afar. Its history is closely tied to that of the capital.

The temple of dawn

After the fall of Ayutthaya in the eighteenth century, a sanctuary was raised here, but it lost importance when Rama I moved the Emerald Buddha to the Grand Palace, on the other bank. Neglected for a time, the site was revived under Rama II and Rama III. Its central prang, a tall Khmer-style sanctuary tower, rises to eighty-two metres.

What to see

The prang is covered with fragments of porcelain, mosaics and shells that shimmer in the light; four smaller prangs surround it. This porcelain came from the cargoes of Chinese ships: plates and bowls, sometimes chipped, were broken and reused with ingenuity. Admire this unique decor in respect for the sanctuary.

Practical information

Wat Arun is in the Bangkok Yai district, on the right bank of the Chao Phraya, reached by boat from the other bank. Like any place of worship, it is visited in appropriate dress; hours and access conditions should be checked depending on the season.

Why does Wat Arun shine in the sun ?

Its towers are covered with fragments of Chinese porcelain and shells that shimmer in the light.

How tall is the central prang ?

The central Khmer-style prang rises to about eighty-two metres.