Wat Arun located on the west bank of Chao Phraya river in Thon Buri can be reached either by Arun road or by crossing the river by boat from Tha Tien pier, near Wat Pho. It is the best seen from the opposite bank of the river and it glistens in the sunlight during the day and stands dark and noble at down.           

A visit to the beautiful, peaceful monastery complex surrounding the familiar towers is very worth. These tower, the Prang best known, are the only one part of Wat Arun. The towers of Wat Arun were built of brick covered with stucco. The decorations were unique; thousands of pieces of multicoloured Chinese porcelain.           

The Phra Prang of  Wat Arun is one of Bangkok’s world famous landmarks. The central balcony commands an impressive view of Bangkok across the river. From here one can see the Grand palace, the Emerald Buddha and the spacious Wat Pho.  Wat Arun figures are one of Thailand’s most colorful festivals, the Royal Tod Kathin. When His Majesty the king travels down the river in a procession of Royal barges to present new robes to the monks after their tree-month lent period.

The most attractive structure of Phra Prang is 81 metres and 85 centimetres high. When tourists from other countries arrived Wat Arun. The tourists in the past often climbed the stairs of the Phra Prang or pagoda to gain a panoramic  view of the city and river. The Phra Prang was the landmark telling them, they at last arrived in Bangkok.

This temple commonly known at Wat Jaeng, formerly called Wat Makok and later was called Wat Makok Nok in the Ayuthaya period and then the original Wat Makok was called Wat Makok Nai. In the old time, The people called name according to the sub-district.  When King Taksin made Thonburi, his capital and decided to build his Royal palace, Wat Makok Nok which fell within the intended palace ground, was made the palace temple, the temple with no resident monks. The king Taksin restored it and renamed it “Wat Jaeng”. The name of Wat Jaeng was said that when the king Taksin liberated of the Ayuthaya from Myanmar in 2310 B.E.           

When he wished to move an old capital of Ayutthaya to restore Thon Buri, his capital. He arrived the front of the temple by the Chaophraya river on the sunrise time or in the morning. He thought it was the best time or as an auspicious moment. He commanded a soldier to anchor ships at the pier and walked up to worship the Chedi or the Phra Prang. Then the king Taksin stayed at a temple half for sermons near a Pho-tree and later he restored the temple and changed new name as Wat Jaeng or Wat Arun. The Wat Jaeng was restored again by King RamaII and renamed “Wat Arunrachataram” King RamaIV later changed the name to “Wat Arunratchawararam”.           

Wat Jaeng once housed two important Buddha images. There were enshrined the Emerald Buddha and the Phra Bang.both of them were brought down from Vientiane in 1778. The Emerald Buddha was enshrined in the templebut the Phra Bang was later returned to Vientiane.  After Bangkok became both the now capital  and the seat of the Royal palace. Wat Jaeng no longer was serbed as the Royal temple.So King Rama I allowed it to have monks in residence again.