The second stop of my Tour d' Bangkok was
definitely Wat Pho (The Temple of The Reclining Buddha). Located in the
Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Been there a year
ago, still I was yearning for it. The huge reclining Buddha is the best I had
ever seen. Yet the main reason for my visit this time was to have a taste of
the famous Wat Pho massage. The temple is known as the birthplace of
traditional Thai massage. I must say it lives up to its reputation. Half an
hour foot massage for THB 360 swept away all my fatigue and I was ready for my
third stop.
My third stop would be Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn). Wat Arun is located on the west side of Chao Phraya River. Took a cross-river ferry at Tha Tien Pier on Thai Wang Road. The ferry took off every 10 - 15 minutes. Ticket is THB 2 / person / one way. The ferry operates from 06.00 - 22.00 daily.
For the foreigners, the temple charges an entrance fee of THB 50 (as of June 2009). The outstanding feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (Khmer-style tower). Steep steps lead to the two terraces. The height is reported by different sources as between 66,80 m and 86 m. The corners are surrounded by 4 smaller satellite prangs. The prangs are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China.
(Source: Wikipedia)
My third stop would be Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn). Wat Arun is located on the west side of Chao Phraya River. Took a cross-river ferry at Tha Tien Pier on Thai Wang Road. The ferry took off every 10 - 15 minutes. Ticket is THB 2 / person / one way. The ferry operates from 06.00 - 22.00 daily.
For the foreigners, the temple charges an entrance fee of THB 50 (as of June 2009). The outstanding feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (Khmer-style tower). Steep steps lead to the two terraces. The height is reported by different sources as between 66,80 m and 86 m. The corners are surrounded by 4 smaller satellite prangs. The prangs are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China.
(Source: Wikipedia)
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| Wat Pho The Reclining Buddha Hall |
The mural is not as shiny as those in The
Grand Palace. Maybe waiting for its turn to be refurbished for the upcoming Her
Royal Highness Queen Sirikit's 77th birthday celebration.
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| Wat Pho Massage Center |
The massage center is quite a distance from
The Reclining Buddha Hall. But it worth the effort. The massage was amazing.
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| Wat Pho Massage Center |
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| Wat Pho The Reclining Buddha Temple |
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| Wat Pho Signboard |
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| Wat Pho Map |
1. Phra Ubosot
2. Ubosot-Wall (Kampaeng Kaeo)
3. Eastern Viharn
4. Southern Viham้
5. Western Viharn
6. Northern Viharn
7. Phra Prang
8. Five Chedi on Single Base
9. Phra Chedi Rai
10. Phra Rabieng (Gallery)
11. L-shaped Viharn
12. Model Hills
13. Phra Maha Chedi Group
14. Phra Mondop (Library)
15. Library Pavillon (Museum)
16. Viharn of the Reclining Buddha
17. Sala Kan Parien (Preaching Hall)
18. Misakawan Park (The Bodhi Tree)
19. Crocodile Pond
20. Belfry
21. "Crowned" Gate with Chinese Stone Giants
22. Thai Traditional Medical Science School
23. Sala Rai (Multipurpose Pavillon)
2. Ubosot-Wall (Kampaeng Kaeo)
3. Eastern Viharn
4. Southern Viham้
5. Western Viharn
6. Northern Viharn
7. Phra Prang
8. Five Chedi on Single Base
9. Phra Chedi Rai
10. Phra Rabieng (Gallery)
11. L-shaped Viharn
12. Model Hills
13. Phra Maha Chedi Group
14. Phra Mondop (Library)
15. Library Pavillon (Museum)
16. Viharn of the Reclining Buddha
17. Sala Kan Parien (Preaching Hall)
18. Misakawan Park (The Bodhi Tree)
19. Crocodile Pond
20. Belfry
21. "Crowned" Gate with Chinese Stone Giants
22. Thai Traditional Medical Science School
23. Sala Rai (Multipurpose Pavillon)
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| Wat Arun The Chao Phrya River |
Took the picture from the ferry. Had a hard
time standing still on the rocking ferry.
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| Wat Arun |
Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan,
Thailand
The first class royal temple that was built in the Ayutthaya period, was first called Wat Makok, then changed to Wat Makok Nok because there was another new temple in the area called Wat Makok Nai (Wat Nualnoradit).
In a later period, King Taksin the Great formed the troop via the river from Ayutthaya and reached the temple in the early dawn. The sight inspired him to renovate the place and change the name to Wat Chaeng, meaning the Temple of Dawn.
Thonburi was the capital in 1768. The king built the new palace that surrounded the temple, Wat Chaeng was the temple in the palace that without the monks resided. The royal temple of Thonburi was the holding place for the Emerald Buddha and Phra Bang, the Buddha images, which were brought in from Vientiane in the reign of King Rama I. When the capital and royal palace were moved from Thonburi to Bangkok, the wall of Thonburi Palace was destroyed. When Wat Chaeng was no longer the temple in the palace, the monks were allowed to reside there.
The renovation of the palace continued until the reign of King Rama II who changed the temple's name to Wat Arun Ratchatharam. It was renovated again during the time of King Rama IV. Once again the King changed its name to Wat Arun Ratchawararam.
Thailand
The first class royal temple that was built in the Ayutthaya period, was first called Wat Makok, then changed to Wat Makok Nok because there was another new temple in the area called Wat Makok Nai (Wat Nualnoradit).
In a later period, King Taksin the Great formed the troop via the river from Ayutthaya and reached the temple in the early dawn. The sight inspired him to renovate the place and change the name to Wat Chaeng, meaning the Temple of Dawn.
Thonburi was the capital in 1768. The king built the new palace that surrounded the temple, Wat Chaeng was the temple in the palace that without the monks resided. The royal temple of Thonburi was the holding place for the Emerald Buddha and Phra Bang, the Buddha images, which were brought in from Vientiane in the reign of King Rama I. When the capital and royal palace were moved from Thonburi to Bangkok, the wall of Thonburi Palace was destroyed. When Wat Chaeng was no longer the temple in the palace, the monks were allowed to reside there.
The renovation of the palace continued until the reign of King Rama II who changed the temple's name to Wat Arun Ratchatharam. It was renovated again during the time of King Rama IV. Once again the King changed its name to Wat Arun Ratchawararam.
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| First Terrace View |
Magnificent
view of Chao Phrya River from The First Terrace.
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| Wat Arun The Chao Phrya River |
Chao Phrya River view from the First Terrace
of Wat Arun, and The Grand Palace is at the background scene.
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| The First Terrace |
The first steep stairs to First Terrace.
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| Central Phrang |
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| On The Way to The Second Terrace |
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| The Second Terrace |
Finally I made it. My feet were trembling due
to the height and the wind. Maybe will try to climb up to The Third Terrace in
my next visit... if I have the guts ^o^
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| Shorea Robusta Roxb |
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| Shorea Robusta Roxb |
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| Shorea Robusta Roxb |
The flower is used in praying.
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