WAT ARUN

WAT ARUN

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SURVEY THE MONUMENT OF THE RESURRECTED THAI CAPITAL

WAT ARUN
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Standing sentra alongs the Mae Nam Chao Phraya river bank,Wat Arun

commoands as much visual respect as its history would demand.It was here,

on the Thonburi side of the river,that General Taksin resurrected the Thai capital after the fall of Ayuthaya.What was then Temple of Dawn (so named for Taksin's literal and metaphoric arrival in 1767) lost its bid for monarchical monogamy with the crowning of a new king and new capital across the river in Bangkok.

wat arun

What stands to day retains a sense of martial superiority with a towering phallic-shaped stupa that rises to a height of 82m and mimics the aggressive architectural style of Angkor Wat. This central tower is symbolic of Mt Meru,centre of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

wat arun

Some argue the Wat Arun is more stunning from a distance,but a close-up reveals a colourful floral-motif mosaic of porcelain once used as ballast in Chinese sailing ships.

WAT ARUN
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Aflight of steep stairs is open to the public for better views of the tiered layer's decora-tive Hindu figures:the kinnari(half human0half bird) and Indra (god ofthe sky) astride Erawan (Indra's elephant mount).A pair of yaksha (giants) stand guard at the main chapel'and Phra Pai'the god of wind,is frozen on his horse in the minor prang (corn-cob-shaped stupa).

WAT ARUN
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