Watarun Sub District

DISTRICT: Bangkok Yai

POSTCODE: 10600

Wat Arun is a sub-district of Bangkok Yai and can be found to the west of Central Bangkok on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. It is one of the smaller sub-districts of Bangkok both in geographical area and population.

Around the area is the home of the Thai Navy Convention Center, and there are transportation links to the rest of Bangkok via the MRT Blue Line, there is also a busy highway network featuring the Tha Phra intersection.

In this area are many temples, but of course Wat Arun is what the sub-district is named after.

The full name of this temple is Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan which translates to the Temple of Dawn, which offers commanding views of the Chao Phraya River from the west bank.

The temple has existed since the times of the Ayutthaya Kingdom when it was known as Wat Makok, after the village it was built.

Following the fall of Ayutthaya the temple was renamed again by King Taksin when he established his new capital Thonburi close by. And it was rumored that the king passed the temple at dawn and vowed to restore it.

The Emerald Buddha which now lies in the Royal Palace compound was once housed in Wat Arun. The temple was abandoned for a considerable period of time before Rama II had it restored in the period between 1824 and 1851.

The main feature of the temple is the beautiful Khmer-style tower which is actually called a prang, and is around eighty meters high and highly decorative.

Two other historical buildings worth a visit in and around the area are Wang Derm Palace and Wichai Prasit Fort.

Wat Arun has not got any large shopping malls or trendy restaurants. Most people that frequent it either live there or are going to see the tourist attractions.