Wat Arun

Wat Arun is defined by a massive, towering spire—a prang—that rises over eighty meters above the banks of the Chao Phraya River. This central structure is entirely encrusted with millions of pieces of colorful Chinese porcelain and seashells, which form intricate floral patterns that catch and reflect the sunlight. The temple takes its name from Aruna, the Hindu god of dawn, and it has stood on this site in various forms since at least the seventeenth century.