Skip to content

History of
Wat Arun Ratchawararam

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan is located on the western side of the Chao Phraya River, directly opposite Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm (Wat Pho). Wat Arun is an ancient temple believed to have been constructed during the Ayutthaya period. The exact year of its construction and the identity of its founder are unknown. Evidence suggests it was built before King Narai the Great (1656-1688), as indicated by the map of Thonburi created by Frenchmen Captain Claude de Forbin and engineer de Lamare during King Narai’s reign. This map shows the temple’s sacred precincts, including the old ubosot (ordination hall) and vihara (assembly hall) in front of the main prang (stupa).

Image: Map showing the location of Wat Makok in the map by Monsieur Jean Vollard de Verchain (source: Chatree Prakitnonthakarn)

Wat Makok – Wat Chaeng – Wat Arunratchatharam – Wat Arunratchawararam

Wat Arun was originally called “Wat Makok,” as it was named after its location in the Bang Makok district. In ancient Thai tradition, temple names often derived from their locality, therefore the initial name was likely “Wat Bang Makok,” which was later shortened to “Wat Makok.” Another temple was later built in the Bang Krok Yai canal district. The villagers called this new temple “Wat Makok Nai” (now Wat Nuannoradit), and the original temple near the canal’s mouth was renamed “Wat Makok Nok” to differentiate between the two. It was later renamed “Wat Chaeng” during the Thonburi period. During the Rattanakosin period, under King Rama II, the temple was renamed “Wat Arunratchatharam,” and later, King Rama IV renamed it “Wat Arunratchawararam,” the name it is called today.

Image: Map of Wat Arunratchawararam, 1968 (source: Royal Thai Survey Department)
 Thonburi Period

When King Taksin the Great relocated the capital city from Ayutthaya to Thonburi, he built a new royal palace and extended the palace grounds to Khlong Nakhonban to include a temple, which became known as Wat Chaeng, making it so that Wat Chaeng is included within the royal grounds, following the model most commonly present during the Ayutthaya era. Since the temple was within the palace precincts, monks were not permitted to reside there during this time. Wat Arun housed the Emerald Buddha (Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn) for five years before it was moved to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram in 1784.

 Image: Wat Arunratchawararam (Wat Chaeng) during the Thonburi period (source: Chatree Prakitnonthakarn)
Rattanakosin Period
King Rama I – พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราช

When King Rama I ascended the throne, he moved the capital city to the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River (Bangkok) and built a new Grand Palace using bricks from the old Thonburi city walls as well as constructed Wat Phra Sri Rattanasasadaram within the palace grounds. After dismantling the palace walls from the canal at Wat Chaeng, the temple was no longer within the palace grounds and became a monastery again which allowed monks to reside at the temple. King Rama I ordered Prince Isarasundhorn (later King Rama II) to oversee the restoration of Wat Chaeng, laying the groundwork for the restoration of the ubosot and vihara.

 

King Rama II – พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย

Upon ascending the throne, King Rama II continued the restoration of Wat Chaeng. He rebuilt the small ubosot and vihara, created new monks’ quarters, added cloisters around the ubosot, sculpted the principal Buddha image himself and constructed a large crematorium behind the temple. He also began plans to enlarge the central prang but did not complete it in his reign.

 

King Rama III – พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว

King Rama III expanded and renovated the entire temple complex. He built new gates, added a pair of giant statues at the entrance, constructed a mondop (pavilion) to house a replica of the Buddha’s footprint, and built four small chedis (stupas). He also relocated a miniature mountain from the Grand Palace to the temple grounds. He continued the construction of the central prang, designing and completing it with a crown borrowed from a Buddha image at Wat Nang Nong.

 Image: Wat Arunratchawararam during the reigns of King Rama II – III (source: Chatree Prakitnonthakarn)
King Rama IV (พระบาทสมเด็จพระจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) – Present

During King Rama IV’s reign, the royal ashes of King Rama II were enshrined in the main Buddha image at Wat Arun, which was named “Phra Buddha Thammisaraj Lokathat Dilok” King Rama V ordered a major renovation of the temple, supervised by Prince Chakkraphatpongs. Subsequent reigns continued to maintain and restore the temple, with new buildings primarily constructed in the northern part of the temple complex, including Taweethapisek School during King Rama V’s reign and “Phuak Witthayaprasart” monastic school and “Anusorn Tharuea Khunmae Phueak” pier pavilion during King Rama IX’s reign.

Image: Wat Arunratchawararam during King Rama V’s reign (source: Chatree Prakitnonthakarn)

 

Wat Arun remains a site for significant royal ceremonies, such as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony during King Rama II’s reign and the Royal Kathin ceremony. It remains a key stop on the Royal Barge Procession route. The temple has undergone continuous renovations and restorations in every reign, with significant changes in the early Rattanakosin period (King Rama I—III) affecting its architecture and layout today.