Wat Arun
Sign in to saveAlso known as Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, Wat Arun Ratchavararam, Temple of Dawn
Buddhist temple in central Bangkok, Thailand
Key facts
- Affiliation
- Theravada Buddhism
- Country
- Thailand
- Completed
- before 1656 ; 370 years ago ( 1656 ) (founded) 1851 (main prang constructed) 2017 (latest major restoration)
via Wikipedia infobox
~13 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan (Thai: วัดอรุณราชวราราม ราชวรมหาวิหาร pronunciation ) or Wat Arun ( Thai pronunciation: [wát ʔarun], "Temple of Dawn") is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand. It is situated in Thonburi on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruṇa, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Built with a fusion of Indian influences, incorporating elements of both Hindu and Buddhist symbolism, as well as reflecting Siamese tradition and identity. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks. Although the temple has existed since at least the 17th century, its distinctive prang (spire) was built in the early 19th century during the reigns of Rama II and Rama III.
Etymology
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Wat Arun” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.