Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, is named after the Indian God of Dawn — Aruna, and is a remarkable construction work. Wat Arun received its name as King Taksin arrived there from broken Ayutthaya at dawn in October 1767. Fairly soon the King started to build the temple which would for many years accommodate the Emerald Buddha, Phra Kaeo, which is today housed in the Grand Palace area in the Rattanakosin part of Bangkok. The monument has khmer-architectural elements and is the only one of its kind in Thailand. The area’s perimeter is 134 meters and the main tower is 79 meters high. The main tower reflects the mythical mountain Mount Meru while the ornamented lines represent heavens.
The easiest way to get to Wat Arun, which lies on the west bank of the river (Chao Phraya River), is by express boat or by taking a taxi.
