Religious site

Wat Arun

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Wat ArunPhoto via TripAdvisor (RatchaCNarong)
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Wat Arun, known as the Temple of Dawn, is a striking Buddhist temple on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya River. Its centerpiece is a 70-meter-high prang (Khmer-style tower) decorated with millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain and colorful seashells, creating a mosaic that shimmers in the sunlight. Visitors can climb the steep steps of the prang for panoramic views of the river and the Grand Palace. The temple also features a statue of the Buddha giving his first sermon, and the surrounding ordination hall houses a revered Buddha image. The best time to see the temple is at sunrise or sunset when the light illuminates the porcelain.

Don't miss

  • Climb the central prang for river and city views
  • Admire the intricate porcelain mosaic decorations
  • Visit the ordination hall with its Buddha statue

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Wat Arun

You can visit Wat Arun on your own. A guide is worth it for the history and detail that is easy to walk past, and a tour can combine it with nearby sights.

Getting there

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