Thailand Travel Pages

Wat Arun:

The famous Wat Arun perhaps better known as the Temple of the Dawn, is one of the best known landmarks and one of the most published images of Bangkok. The temple consists of a massive elongated prang (Khmer-style tower), which is surrounded by four smaller prangs. The main prang is 104m high and is decorated by pieces of porcelain that had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China. The Wat had a brief period as host of the celebrated Emerald Buddha, which now resides in nearby Wat Phra Kaew inside the grounds of the Grand Palace.

The Wat really looks great from a distance, but you're missing out if you only view it from across the river. The grounds are pleasant and peaceful, with interesting murals and a Buddha image designed by King Rama II. No visit is complete without checking out the view of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho from the top of the central prang. The guardians here are also quite impressive.

Despite it's name, the best views of Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) are from the river in the evening with the setting sun as a back drop. Located on the opposite side of the river are a number of restaurants, ideally situated to experience the beautiful sunsets and the wonderful river ambiance in style.