Thai Traditional Costume Experience at Wat Arun in Bangkok: Become a Prince and Princess

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, is a temple that commemorates King Taksin, the 41st monarch of Thailand and a national hero. Founded during the Ayutthaya period, it was originally called the Crown Temple, but was later renamed Wat Chang. Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi, it is one of Thailand's royal temples. Wat Arun is also depicted on the reverse of the 10 baht coin. King Taksin drove out Burmese enemies, saved the country, recaptured Ayutthaya, and founded the Thonburi dynasty. He strengthened the country during his 15-year reign and developed friendly relations with the Qing dynasty. According to legend, it was dawn when King Taksin arrived in Thonburi from Ayutthaya, so the temple was named the Temple of the Dawn. The main tower of Wat Arun houses the statue and relics of King Taksin, and Chinese-style lanterns hang inside. A visit to Wat Arun gives you an insight into the close relationship and deep friendship between Thailand and China. Wat Arun has undergone many restorations and expansions, and the current 79-meter-tall Brahma-style spire, Phra Prang, was built in 1809. Also known as the "Thai Eiffel Tower," this tower has a square base and tower body, many floors, and the area decreases as it goes up, giving it an ancient and majestic impression. The outside of the spire is decorated with intricate carvings and is embedded with colorful ceramic pieces, glass, shells, etc. It is the largest Mahayana pagoda in Thailand, and is surrounded by four smaller towers, forming a beautiful tower complex. The base of the tower is carved with images of animals and gods, which are intricate and lifelike. The tip of the tower is covered with gold leaf, making the whole tower shine in gold. Inside the central pagoda, there are stairs leading to a balcony at the top of the pagoda, from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of Bangkok city, the Great Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and the Chao Phraya River. The temple also has a Buddha hall, a four-sided hall with a Buddha's footprint, a pagoda, a gatehouse with a crown-shaped spire, a Buddha pavilion, a six-meter giant statue, a corridor, an artificial mountain, and Chinese stone statues. Wat Arun, along with the Great Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on the opposite bank, forms a landmark landscape of Bangkok and Thailand. Why not try on a traditional Thai costume here and become a beautiful Thai princess or a cool Thai prince? In the back streets of Wat Arun, there are many shops where you can rent Thai costumes of various styles and colors, which are cleaned and disinfected daily. The changing rooms are fully air-conditioned, and some shops also offer makeup services. Address: 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Khwaeng Wat Arun, Khet Bangkok Yai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600 Transportation: Take a boat to Wat Arun Pier or take the MRT Blue Line to Itsaraphap Station and walk 1km Opening hours: 08:00-18:30 Admission: 200 baht, you can enter and exit freely after getting your hand stamped Thai costume rental: Full costume (no makeup) 800-1000 baht Thai costume photo shoot: 1500-2000 baht/1 hour, 800-1000 baht/30 minutes #BangkokTrip #CharmOfThailand #WatArun