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On the West Bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, sits one of the city’s most popular sights – Wat Arun. This Buddhist temple, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is characterized by it’s tall prangs (towers) that rise high above the temple and river below them. The towers are beautifully decorated in different coloured porcelain to give Wat Arun it’s unique look.

If you’ve taken a ferry along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, there is no doubt that you have probably seen Wat Arun at some point, and this is also the best way to get there. From Tha Tien Pier (also the best stop for Wat Pho), you can take the cross river ferry to Wat Arun for 3 Baht. The entrance fee to the temple costs 50 Baht.

Wat Arun is definitely one of my favourite temples in Thailand, and in my opinion, it shines above the rest when the sun sets behind it in the late afternoon.

The ferry crossing the river to Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

The cross river ferry at Wat Arun

Guardian statues at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

Guardian statues at Wat Arun

A Buddhist flower offering at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

A Buddhist flower offering at Wat Arun

The tall towers of Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

The tall prangs (towers) that characterize the temple

Buddha statue at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

A Buddha statue in front of the towers

Buddhist bells at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

Buddhist bells at Wat Arun

Tall central tower at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

A steep staircase gives access to the top of the central prang. Climb to the top for great views of Bangkok.

Demon statues hold up the temple at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

Demon statues “hold up” the prang

View of the Chao Phraya River at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

View of the Chao Phraya River from the central prang at Wat Arun

Looking down the stairs at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

It’s a long way down the steep stair case on the central prang at Wat Arun

Flowers at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

Flowers in the gardens of Wat Arun

Approaching Wat Arun at sunset at Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

Approaching Wat Arun at sunset on the Chao Phraya River ferry

Wat Arun at Sun set in Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Arun at sunset