Temple of Dawn

Ask anyone who’s been to Bangkok "what is Thailand’s greatest landmark?" and 9 out of 10 will respond: Wat Arun, better known as the Temple of Dawn. Situated on the West Bank of Chao Phraya River in Thonburi, it is Bangkok oldest temple. Best seen from the opposite banks of the river, the temple was originally called Wat Makok since the days of Ayutthaya as Thailand's capital. The reason: it stands on a district called Bangmakok, the name which has since been shortened to "Bangkok."
	Kim Jones

	Here is the temple's story: When King Tak Sin decided to build his new capital in Thonburi, he arrived at dawn So, he renamed the Wat Makok as Wat Jang. "Tang" means clear, bright and dawn.

His general, who later became King Rama I, had brought the Emerald Buddha from Laos. After King Rama I moved his capital from Thonburi to Bangkok, he took the idol to its present site in the Temple of Emerald Buddha.

His son, King Rama II was asked to expand the temple. What he did was invite monks to live there. He also built the main temple and other buildings; he even carved the temple's idols himself.

Rama III carried out his father's intention by laying the foundation stone in 1842, which has a base of 700 feet, and the central prang is 250 feet high. Furthermore, he added various buildings to the monastery.

King Rama IV (King Mongkut) applied the ceramic decorations and moved the idols which King Rama I had taken with the Emerald Buddha to the temple. In the base of this statue, called Phra Arun, he placed the ashes of King Rama II. Then the monastery was again renamed Wat Arun Rajchavararam. Arun is the more precise meaning of dawn than Tang, which has several meanings.

The Phra Prang or pagoda has steep stone steps, which lead up to the first terrace, which are guarded by fierce Chinese figures. At each corner of which stand the small pagodas in Khmer style. Encircling their lower parts are Thai-style giants and monkeys. The Prangs are crowned with the trident of Shiva.

On each side of the second terrace is a beautiful pavilion with a roof spired like a stupa, which houses statues of four major events in the Buddha's life. These pavilions have an overall orange and rust color but the roofs are Yellow and blue.

Climbing up the steep stone steps to a balcony, you can grasp a very good view of pavilions and the other figures as well. A steeper staircase leads to the highest balcony, from which you will discover a fine view of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok from Rama I Bridge to the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the noble Golden Mountain Temple.

The most extraordinary part of this pavilion is the decoration, a reason it merited an entry in Ripley's "Believe It or Not" book. It is built of brick, covered with plaster into which are inlaid thousands of pieces of Chinese porcelain, said to be salvaged from a sunken ship in the river. The porcelain dishes are artfully broken into petals and weave their way all over the structure.

Plates of Chinese blue and white pottery set into the yellowing plaster make a blaze of color, but bronze is the overall effect. The building one passes through to enter the Phra Prang area is full of Buddha idols and a shrine for King Tak Sin and his statue.

If you don’t have a lot of time in Bangkok, Wat Arun should be on your itinerary. For charm, grandness and warmth, a visit around the Temple of Dawn will never be forgotten.