Wat Arun (, "Temple of Dawn") is a Buddhist temple in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok,Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun and full name of the temple is given by Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan (วัดอรุณราชวรารามราชวรมหาวิหาร). Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama I. (ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Arun).

It has been the Royal Temple dedicated to the 2nd reign of Chakkri Dynasty. It is considered as the most elegant pagoda.

Fee: 50 Baht


Wat Arun seen from the ferry
Wat Arun seen from the ferry.
Demon Guards outside Wat Arun.
Demon guards at a temple outside Wat Arun.


HDR Painting of Wat Arun
HDR image of Wat Arun from outside the temple.
The temple seen from the entrance. It looks so tiny here, but wait till you get there.
One of the spires on the ground around the temple.
Angels embedded on the walls of the spires and around the temple.


The main temple seen from the ground.


One of the four spires seen on the second level of the temple. 


Going up. Get ready. Hold your breath and don't look down. Just keep going up.  Not for the faint-hearted. This is also good for exercise.  :D
The coloured materials you see around the temple are broken porcelain from China embedded onto the walls. The broken porcelains were used as ballast in ships that sailed from China to Thailand.




Preparing to go up. :)


These ropes wrapped around the railings help you get a good grip when you go up and down. The stairs were a little bit slippery as they were a little bit shiny. Just take extra caution. 



A monk washing dishes as seen from atop.


Some tourists take photos of them and their friends when they go up or go down.
Chao Phraya River as seen from the top of the temple.


The Steps
It's easy to go up but difficult to go down. Acrophobia kicks in just looking at this picture.


The way down
The way down. You would wish there were elevators, escalators or slide. The visit would be worthwhile if you go the top though.
I also wished they gave certificates that says 'I did it. I made it to the top'.




HDR image of the elephants at the top of the temple. 


Tourists
More people are going up. If you're going with small children, take extra caution, watch your kids. 
HDR image of the temple seen from the ground.
Another HDR image of the temple seen from the ground. Notice the size of the people going down and the size of temple.




The visit here gave me weak knees when I got home. A really good exercise you can get just going up and down the temple.