Holiday Ayo - Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple located in Bangkok, Thailand. This temple was built on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River with a tower height of more than 80 meters. Wat Arun or what is known as the Temple of Dawn is one of the 6 temples that has the highest tower.

Therefore, Wat Arun is the most revered temple in Thailand. This temple has the original name, namely Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchatarom Vihara. Wat Arun is the oldest temple in Thailand, built during the Ayutthaya Kingdom, when it was known as Wat Makok . This temple is one of the most popular destinations for tourists when visiting Thailand.

source: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Wat Arun Temple is one of the temples whose construction preceded the founding of the city of Bangkok and began in the Rattanakosin era. This temple is the oldest temple in Thailand which was built during the Ayutthaya Kingdom under the reign of King Taksin. Then during the reign of King Rama II, Wat Arun underwent expansion. In the 18th century, when the Ayutthaya Kingdom fell, King Taksin founded Thonburi as the new capital, located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Since then, King Taksin changed the name of this temple to Wat Chaeng (dawn) and briefly this temple was able to accommodate the Emerald Buddha which came from Vientiane. When the King first saw the beauty of this temple when the sun rose, he called this temple the "Temple of Dawn" while "Aruna" means the goddess of dawn and "wat" means temple. Therefore, Wat Arun Temple is also known as the Temple of Dawn .

Wat Arun Temple is a temple built in the Khmer and Phra Prang architectural styles as the main attraction of this temple. The concept of building this temple is similar to temples in general, namely using the Tridhatu system. Prang as the peak of the temple tower is symbolized as Mount Meru which is the center of the universe whose base is a vast ocean with the sun and moon around it.

source: Adorable Backpacker

The term Mount Meru is often mentioned in Hindu fairy tales and legends. One story says that Mount Meru and the God of the Wind were originally friends. However, the sage Narada incited Bayu to collapse Mount Meru by blowing a strong wind. However, this failed to happen because Garuda's wings protected Mount Meru so it remained.

Then one year passed, Garuda was tired and rested for some time. This caused the peak of Mount Meru to be blown off and beheaded. Pieces of the mountain peak fell into the sea and formed an island called Sri Lanka. Therefore, around the main prang, four small prangs are placed with a statue of Dewa Bayu on top, which consists of 3 levels.

Wat Arun Temple is famous for its beauty and splendor when seen at sunrise or sunset. So this temple is known as the Temple of Dawn or the temple of dawn. Therefore, Wat Arun Temple is a site that is often visited by tourists when visiting the land of the White Elephant.

source: Bring You

Wat Arun is famous for its towering tower. This Khmer architectural style tower is decorated with millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain in varying colors. A steep staircase on the side of the prang leads to the terrace and provides panoramic views of the Chao Phraya River.

To visit Wat Arun Temple, there are 2 types of transportation used, namely air train and boat. The route that will be passed is the Chao Phraya River. Around the temple there are various kinds of traditional Thai clothing rentals and tourists can use them to take photos. Apart from that, there is a market that sells souvenirs such as T-shirts and typical Thai crafts.