Wat Arun – Temple of Dawn in Bangkok

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, stands on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Known for its central spire, it remains one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks.

Origins and Early History of Wat Arun

Wat Arun dates back to the Ayutthaya period and appears on European maps from 1688. After Ayutthaya’s fall in 1767, Thai forces based themselves near the temple and built Thonburi Palace close by. King Rama II initiated the temple’s restoration and laid plans for a new central prang, marking the beginning of its transformation into a royal temple. Construction continued under King Rama III, who oversaw major rebuilding work and completed the project around 1851. The result reflected Thonburi’s continuing importance along the river even after the royal court moved across to Bangkok in 1782.

Architecture and Artistic Features

The central prang of Wat Arun rises to a height of more than 70 metres. Artisans decorated it with fragments of porcelain once used as ballast on Chinese trading ships, arranging them into floral and geometric patterns that catch and reflect the light throughout the day. The design shows early nineteenth-century craftsmanship, when builders combined traditional Thai forms with imported materials. Around the main tower stand smaller prangs and guardian figures drawn from Hindu mythology, illustrating the cultural mix that shaped Bangkok’s early identity.

Reaching Wat Arun by River

Visitors can reach Wat Arun easily by river. Public Chao Phraya Express boats stop at Tha Tien Pier on the opposite bank, where a frequent ferry crosses directly to the temple. By contrast, The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat stops at Wat Arun Pier and not Tha Tien Pier as part of its hop-on hop-off route. The temple grounds are open for walking, though climbing the main prang is no longer allowed. For official visitor information, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Wat Arun and Nineteenth-Century Temple Building

During King Rama III’s reign (1824–1851), many temples were restored or built along this stretch of the Chao Phraya River. Wat Arun formed part of that wider movement, together with Wat Pho across the river and Wat Kalayanamit further downstream. These temples shared a common style that joined Thai design with Chinese decorative motifs. Their construction expressed stability and prosperity after years of conflict. Today, Wat Arun stands as a lasting example of that era’s craftsmanship and of the close link between art, faith, and the river that shaped Bangkok’s early growth.