Wat Arun – One of the best monuments in Thonburi
To start with, Thonburi is surely and most prominently, Bangkok’s least known alter ego. Now, when the place itself is so unheard of, the temples and monuments which provide an added flavor to the serenity of the place are therefore very unpopular. But when you visit this place and cross the river Chao Phraya, you can have a glimpse of a very renowned monument of this place, the Wat Arun. When I saw the pictures of this place whilst doing my pre-journey research, I decided and fixed something in one corner of my brain; “It will be my loss if I miss to visit this place”. In this article, I am going to put light on some of the features of this monument, its history and how to visit this place.
Some quick information for the tourists visiting this place
Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, as the local people name it, is situated on the west bank of the river Chap Phraya in Thonburi. The exact location of the place is Wangderm Road which is situated next to the Naval Base. This place can be accessed from Rattanakosin bank of the river, and is just few miles from that place. So you can just hire a speeding hang yaaw or a local boat for the visit. It is open from 7am to 5pm for the tourists and costs around 60 Bahts for the foreign tourists.
A brief history of the monument and its development
Well, a bit research about the place you are planning to visit is kind of a quintessential format for the so-called tourists. Hence, I would like to put some light of the development and the history of the monument Wat Arun in Thonburi. The development of this Pagoda of Prang began in the reign of King Ayutthaya. Though, the monument was rebuilt by King Rama I and was completed by King Rama II. Initially it’s name was fixed by Ayutthaya as Wat Makok. Though, later its name was changed to Wat Arun, which symbolized the temple of dawn. In Thonburi, this monument used to be the only place which had the chance to house Emerald Buddha. During that period, it was used as the Imperial Temple of the kings.
About the stunning beauty inside and outside Wat Arun
The beauty of the temple as well as the surroundings is something which attracts the tourists. The height of the Prang is around 67 meters and the interiors are decorated with colorful and bright pieces of porcelain. In the surroundings you can find the Royal Palace and the temple which housed Emerald Buddha. The Chinese bell tower is something which you can’t afford to miss if you are visiting this place. The steps of Wat Arun go down to the Chao Phraya River and the whole place is situated amidst great scenic beauty.
