I call myself a cultural enthusiast proudly because whenever i hear about an interesting historical place or architectural building, i become curious and add that to my bucket list. This is what I have been doing since my childhood. One of such additions was “Wat Arun”, which i saw first time on a postcard that my grandfather gave me.
Finally, I planned a trip to Bangkok and booked my flight tickets. There was no direct flight for Bangkok, so I decided to take a one-stop connecting flight via Tokyo. From Narita International Airport, i boarded a flight to Bangkok, and it took 6 hours to reach Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Such a tiring journey it is, but to complete your travel dreams, this rush is worth it.
It was around 11 PM; i reached the accommodation i booked near Wat Arun so that i can even have access to the Chao Phraya river and other historic sites as well. What leveled up my stay was the foot massage that was complimentary with my stay. That eased me and relaxed my body to explore sites the next day. The hotel staff was kind and helpful, they even informed me about the tour agencies like Vacationotrips and a few more and told me to get the tour booked, just in case i want some expert help.
The next day, i woke up and planned to reach the temple around 4 PM, because i am a sunset person and wanted to catch that beautiful sight from that temple.
My day started by taking the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station. From Saphan Taksin Station, I took Exit 2 and walked down to Central Pier. From here i boarded the orange-flag Chao Phraya Express Boat, and i get off at Tha Tien Pier. Enjoying the ride, i crossed to the other bank on the small cross-river ferry (5THB), which finally takes me to the temple. I am a traveler who loves ferry rides, so i was enjoying crossing the river, water splashing and tourists chatting all around. The moment the temple was getting closer, my excitement peaked, and yes, “that postcard picture didn’t prepare me for this view. It was stunning!”
I was mesmerized seeing that 82m tall spire (prang)….(because i was unaware of the exact height earlier, and i came to know from my co-travelers). Once i was at the entrance, i came to know why this place shows up in every Bangkok itinerary.
That Golden-hour light and those white porcelain and colorful mosaics sparkling, the place was perfect for where i can immerge my rover soul. But then came climbing the Steep Steps, which i heard were around 160 steps. It was a really thrilling experience, but thank god i was wearing sturdy, closed-toe footwear with excellent grip.
While climbing, I met an old lady who was a local. She was sweet enough to tell me the history behind this temple, and i listened in a good way, too. I asked her about the reason behind this name, “The Temple of dawn,” and the old lady told me that it comes from Aruna, the Hindu god of the dawn. She was pleased to tell me the story behind this. As she narrated, “this was the place where King Taksin arrived at sunrise after escaping the Burmese sacking of Ayutthaya and elevated it to a royal temple”.”
The moment i reached, i saw the temple and the river i crossed and just sat at a peaceful corner, listening to temple bells and adoring this beautiful architecture. It was totally unbelievable to see that the design combines fragments of broken Chinese porcelain and seashells.
I explored every corner of this temple and started with the two towering giant guardian figures. The mural paintings inside the hall were all about chronicles of Lord buddha.
Wat Arun is a sacred palace of worship and rituals for Buddhists and monks, and all the tourists are asked to respect the place and maintain dignity. I was feeling well-connected with the revered golden Buddha image within the temple. Every sculpture inside the temple was a testament to great Thai craftsmanship.
Finally, it was around 6 PM, dusky, and the spire was glittering. Yes, this was a genuine reason i wanted to visit during the evening, just for capturing this stunning moment with my naked eyes. As i always heard, this is really one of the best views in Bangkok.
Then i came back and headed to a riverside cafe to capture a memorable photograph and also to treat myself to delicious thai food. Seeing Wat Arun illuminated against the evening sky made me fulfilled, and then i carried that postcard in my hand and captured the photo in real!
Then I visited some local eateries, where I tried famous Thai dishes, including Pad Thai and Tom Yum Goong. It was really a day filled with exploration and a happy stomach. Lastly, i came back to my hotel and rested to leave the next day.
“As a memory, I carried a Thai 10 baht coin because this temple appears on it. At last, I would admit that I once thought Wat Arun would be just another temple on my Bangkok itinerary. I was wrong.”
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