Wat Arun

One of Bangkok's most famous and historic landmarks Wat Arun, or the Temple of the Dawn, stands proudly on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River.

In 1768, when King Taksin planned to move the capital from Ayutthaya to Thonburi he travelled down the Chao Phraya River by boat, arriving at dawn at an old wat where he paid his respects. He later named the temple Wat Jang, meaning the Temple of Dawn. The temple was used by King Taksin as his royal chapel and temporarily housed the Emerald Buddha, which was later moved to Wat Phra Kaew where it remains today. Undergoing renovations by King Rama II and Rama III Wat Arun became what it is today.

The courtyard of the wat contains five Khmer-style prangs, with the most impressive and largest in the centre representing Mount Meru, home of the gods in Buddhist belief. The middle prang was originally 16 metres tall but was stretched to reach over 82 metres by King Rama III in 1842. The entirety of the temple is covered in thousands of pieces of broken porcelain, which are thought to have come from damaged Chinese shipments. The effect is beautiful and unlike any other Wat in Bangkok.

It is possible to climb about halfway up the prang from where fine views of Thonburi and the Chao Phraya River can be enjoyed.

Back at ground level, the bot contains a seated Buddha image, the face of which was designed by King Rama II. At particular times of the year a light and sound show is held on the grounds in the early evening, spectacularly lighting up the main prang.

The temple is bustling with visitors throughout the day and with all the climbing and commotion it can get quite hot. A good time to visit is early morning, though the best views of the temple can actually be seen from the other side of the river at sunset. Plan to spend 45 minutes to one hour exploring Wat Arun.