Wat Arun
The Temple Of Dawn On The West Bank Of The Chao Phraya; Its Central Prang Is Decorated With Chinese Porcelain · Bangkok, Bangkok
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, facing the Grand Palace and Wat Pho across the water, and its tall central prang is one of the great symbols of Thailand. The temple is older than Bangkok itself: it served as the royal temple of King Taksin, whose short-lived capital of Thonburi stood on this bank after the fall of Ayutthaya, and it briefly housed the Emerald Buddha. The central prang, a Khmer-style tower about 70 to 80 metres high raised in the early nineteenth century, and the four smaller prangs around it are covered in mosaics of broken Chinese porcelain and seashells arranged as flowers, with rows of demons and gods holding up the tiers. Visitors can climb steep stairs partway up, while the upper levels are closed. The ordination hall holds a revered Buddha image. A cross-river ferry of a few baht runs from Tha Tien pier, dress rules are enforced at the gate, and the temple is lit at night, when the sunset view from the east bank is famous.
158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, Bangkok, 10600, Thailand
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: Wat Arun has opened daily from about 8 am to about 6 pm, with ticket sales stopping around 5.30 pm, and no weekly closing day, though parts of the temple, including the prang stairs, may close for ceremonies, restoration or state events. The cross-river ferry from Tha Tien runs from early morning to late evening, and Chao Phraya Express Boats stop running in the early evening. The prang is lit from dusk. The traps that ruin a day are arriving in shorts and being sent to rent a sarong, believing a stranger who says the temple is closed, staying inside for sunset when the famous view is from the east bank, and missing the last express boat. Confirm current times before relying on them.