Bangkok is a very busy city, filled with the sounds of millions of conversations amongst residents and tourists alike, the sounds of a cleaver pounding down into a fresh, cold coconut, the sounds of horns honking in notorious traffic, and the sounds of motors from tuk-tuks and motorcycles. A busy city is a lively city, but even lively cities have their tranquil, quiet spots. One place to find tranquility is at one of the many temples sprinkled around Bangkok. Bangkok is filled with numerous temples, all rich in history and symbolism, and if you’re looking for tranquility then there’s no better place than one of the city’s most famous temples – Wat Arun – at sunrise.
The best time to visit Wat Arun is at the opening, immediately after sunrise. Like many excursions in Bangkok, visiting temples is usually best in the morning because you get the least amount of crowds as well as getting to enjoy the location before the intense midday heat makes its grand arrival. Wat Arun is a very popular temple in Bangkok, mostly because there is no other temple like it. Many other temples in the city have golden spires that glow in the sun, but Wat Arun has delicate, hand-painted porcelain tiles that shine and illuminate especially at sunrise and sunset.
Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple, and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Thailand. The name Wat Arun comes from Wat, which means Buddhist temple, and Arun, named after the Hindu “god of dawn”. Nicknamed “Temple of Dawn”, it was only fitting of its name that we chose to visit as soon as the temple opens, which is 8 am. Most tour groups do not arrive until around 9 am, so if you’re looking for a time to go where there is the bare minimum of people, 8 am is the time to do it. Yes, it means waking early, but if you’re lucky and you have a sunny day, that early morning glow on the tallest temple in Bangkok is really breathtaking.
Wat Arun, previously known as Wat Makok and Wat Chaeng in the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively, used to be located within the grounds of the old royal palace on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. During the reign of Rama I in the late 18th century, the royal palace was moved directly across the river to the Grand Palace that is known today, along with the sacred Emerald Buddha that was initially housed in Wat Arun. The temple was abandoned until Rama I’s grandson, Rama III, fulfilled his father’s wishes to restore it and make the central spire (or prang) taller.
Even though Wat Arun closes at 6 pm, it’s incredibly romantic to watch the sun set behind the temple from the east side of the Chao Phraya River. As soon as the sun has dipped below the horizon, the temple is illuminated in floodlights that reveal the iconic temple against the starry night sky. I still believe the best time to visit Wat Arun is early in the morning, but if you’re looking for a romantic evening then look no further than Rongros or Suppaniga across the river (I talk about them here) for the most epic dinner with a view of the lit up temple.
