Wat Arun temple in Bangkok
Thailand is known for its many temples and shrines, and Wat Arun is one of the most popular and well-known places of worship. Famous for its iridescent glow when first light hits its porcelain finish at dawn, it also resembles an ancient city at first glance. I’m sure you’ve seen the iconic prang of Wat Arun plastered all over posters featuring Bangkok’s gorgeous landscape.
Well, since I was determined to explore what makes Thailand the spiritual land that it is, we decided that this temple was a must-visit on our recent trip. Read on to check out our gorgeous IG-worthy pictures and how our trip went.
Here are more TSL articles on temples in Bangkok:
- Wat Niwet Thammaprawat: gothic church-style temple in Ayutthaya
- 8 temples in Thailand reppin’ the rainbow
- Tiger Cave Temple has a giant golden mosaic Buddha
The prang of the temple resembles an ancient Aztec city
While we knew that the prang was famous for how iconic it looked while lit up with lights at night, we decided to head down to the temple as early as 8AM in the morning. Even then, the location was already packed with visitors – yet the grounds were so huge that there was plenty of space for everyone to snap their own fill of pictures in the four corners of the main shrine.
Up close, it looks just as imposing as it does when one sees it from afar, standing against the Chao Phraya River. With the mix of warm greens, maroon and reds colouring the mosaic tiles of each spire, it was definitely reminiscent of Aztec print elements.
Wat Arun is also famous for its rich history that it carries – having been a temple that’s been refurnished multiple times by Thai Kings over the years. Once, it was also known as the royal chapel and home to the famous Emerald Buddha that has since moved and resides across the river in Wat Phra Keaw.
The temple grounds are huge and houses a must-visit Ordination Hall
Other than the iconic structure, the temple grounds are huge. Besides a well-maintained lush garden and pristine Chinese pavilions, it’s also home to the famous Ordination Hall.
On the outside, the Ordination Hall has beautifully symmetrical white pillars. Surrounding the hall are also stone statues – each preserving the name and likeness of monks once devoted to the temple.
Within the hall lies a collection of beautiful murals, as well as a painting of the golden Niramitr Buddha. On the day we went down, we observed a group of monks and devotees in practice. With the serenity of the temple and the grandeur of the hall set against this sight, it was hard not to be in awe of their expression of faith.
Free entry for Thais and ฿100 for foreigners
The temple itself offers free entry for locals. This makes it easy for local devotees to come down to the temple as often as they wish. Meanwhile, foreigners are required to pay an entrance fee of ฿100 (~USD2.70), a nominal fee to help maintain this gorgeous temple.
We spent an entirety of 2 hours exploring the temple and snapping as many photographs as we could. To be honest, the architecture of Wat Arun was stunning in its own right. So if you’re an architectural buff, be sure not to miss this place when you’re visiting Thailand next.
Getting to Wat Arun
We know that most websites will suggest that it might be best to get to Wat Arun by boat, but we were able to commute via taxi or a Grab ride to the main entrance from Rama 9.
We definitely recommend coming earlier in the day so you do not get caught up in the midday heat, and so you’re able to snap your photos in the comfort of good weather. If you’re compiling your upcoming temple-hopping itinerary, be sure to include Wat Arun in your list. You won’t regret it.
Wat Arun
Address: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 8AM – 6PM
Telephone: +66 2891 2185
Google Maps
Cover images adapted from: The Smart Local