Th 6 - Temple of Dawn

" However long the night, the dawn will break"
- African proverb

Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahavihara
วัดอรุณราชวรารามราชวรมหาวิหาร

My first stop was at the Tien Pier. From here you can see the Wat Arun on the other side of the river. You can take across river ferry to Wat Arun that cost less than THB 5. Admission fee of THB 50 applied for foreigners and it open from 8.30 am till 5.30 pm.

From left : Wat Arun from the river; beautiful Chinese porcelain decorated it's wall.

Wat Arun or her full name Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahavihara originally since the days of Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya. It have changed her name several times by the Kings and once become the temple for the King inside the Royal Palace. It also once a place for the Emerald Buddha statue before it moves to Wat Phra Kaeo in the current Grand Palace compound.

The demons (Thai: Yaksha) at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien. The white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon Ravana from Ramayana.

Even without the Emerald Buddha, this temple still gained numerous visitors from in and outside Bangkok. The architecture that resembles Mount Meru attracted thousand visitors and worshippers every month.

From left : The satellite prangs are devoted to the wind god Phra Phai; the central prang was supported by yakshas (demon) and kinnari (half-human).

Up to the central prang. Notice that every Buddha or Hindu temple - they will built narrow steps to ascend. Might be to show that every time you want to see God - you should bow your head.