Wat Arun, which is better known as the Temple of the Dawn, is one of the best known landmarks and one of the most published images of Bangkok. It consists of an immense lengthened prang (Khmer-style tower), and is surrounded by four smaller prangs. The prang is described by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as 104m high, while most other sources quote figures around 80-85m. It is decorated by bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China, a feature of the reign of King Rama III. The Wat had a brief period as congregation of the celebrated Emerald Buddha, which now resides in nearby Wat Phra Kaew.


The prang is not only unique in its design, which is a blend of Khmer and Thai styles, but also in beautification. Over the brick core, a layer of plaster was applied and then decorated with bits of Chinese porcelain and glazed ceramic tiles.


Like the bell shaped chedi, the central Prang represents Mount Meru, home of the gods. The four smaller prangs denote the four winds. High up on the four smaller towers, one can see a statue of Pai, god of the winds, on his horse.


In the middle of each side of the square formed by the smaller prangs are pavilions containing Buddha images depicting the four stages of the Buddha's life, birth, meditation, preaching and enlightenment. These safeguard the stairways to the second and third levels of the big prang. Unfortunately, you can only climb up to the first level. The second and third levels are now closed to the public, probably because the stairways were so steep there were many accidents.


Behind the prang is the temple complex proper. The bot is interesting and ornamented on the inside alike to the prang. There are several other small prangs and fine-looking gardens in the temple grounds.


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