| What makes it historical? |
Wat Arun is known as the Temple of Dawn for two reasons: in its first incarnation, it was named for Aruna, the Hindu god of the dawn, and when the sun rises, the temple shimmers with its light! Its overlap with Hinduism is also apparent in its five tall prangs, which symbolize the holy mountain of Meru!
Wat Arun as we know it today was redesigned in 1768 by King Taksin, who liberated Siam from Burmese rule after the fall of Ayutthaya and unified its provinces. According to legend, he had come downriver after a battle with the Burmese and arrived at this temple at the break of dawn, which inspired him to put some effort into glorifying it. King Taksin was part Chinese and fostered great international relations with China, Britain, and the Netherlands!
Rama III would follow in the footsteps of Taksin by completing the magnificent prang at the center of the wat and covering it in Chinese porcelain so it would glitter in the sunlight! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? |
HERE’S HOW:
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
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