The
statuesque pagoda of Wat Arun, or The Temple of Dawn, on the bank of
Chao Phraya has always been the most remembered scene ofBangkok’s
skyline for ages.
It is believed that Wat Arun was built duringAyutthayaera and is better known from its other name: Wat Chaeng, which means theTempleofDawn.
The temple was redecorated for the first time when King Taksin relocated the capital city fromAyutthayato Thonburi in 1767, and built a palace near where the temple is. Wat Chaen or Wat Makok was officially renamed in the reign of King Rama II as Wat Arun Ratchatharam (meansTempleofDawn) but the grand pagoda wasn’t completed until the reign of King Rama III.
During the reign of King Rama IV, he ordered to move the royal ash of KIng Rama II to store here, as well as refurbished and redecorated several structures of the temple. When the renovation completed he renamed the temple Wat Arun Ratchawararam (also meansTempleofDawn), which is the temple current official name.
The main highlight of Wat Arun is undoubtedly the grand pagoda, or prang inThai.Influenced by Khmer-style pagoda, the 67-meter-tall pagoda is made of cement covered by million pieces ofChinaporcelains. It is surrounded by four smaller pagodas.
Wat Arun is also involved in the Royal Barge Procession as the temple is where the king would travel by river to deliver new robes to the monks at the end of the Buddhist Lent period.
It is believed that Wat Arun was built duringAyutthayaera and is better known from its other name: Wat Chaeng, which means theTempleofDawn.
The temple was redecorated for the first time when King Taksin relocated the capital city fromAyutthayato Thonburi in 1767, and built a palace near where the temple is. Wat Chaen or Wat Makok was officially renamed in the reign of King Rama II as Wat Arun Ratchatharam (meansTempleofDawn) but the grand pagoda wasn’t completed until the reign of King Rama III.
During the reign of King Rama IV, he ordered to move the royal ash of KIng Rama II to store here, as well as refurbished and redecorated several structures of the temple. When the renovation completed he renamed the temple Wat Arun Ratchawararam (also meansTempleofDawn), which is the temple current official name.
The main highlight of Wat Arun is undoubtedly the grand pagoda, or prang inThai.Influenced by Khmer-style pagoda, the 67-meter-tall pagoda is made of cement covered by million pieces ofChinaporcelains. It is surrounded by four smaller pagodas.
Wat Arun is also involved in the Royal Barge Procession as the temple is where the king would travel by river to deliver new robes to the monks at the end of the Buddhist Lent period.
