The Glorious Symbol of Bangkok

#bangkoktrip The Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun), built in the Khmer style, is the dominant architectural development of the historical part of Bangkok. In Vedic and Hindu mythology, Arun is the deity of dawn, who controls the celestial chariot of the Sun god. The silhouette of the tower, inlaid with colorful tiles, visually resembles Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The temple complex appeared on the west coast of the Chaopraya River in the era of Ayutthaya, a state that existed since the middle of the XIV century. In 1767, the ancient city of Ayutthaya was completely destroyed by the Burmese. King Taksin decided to move the capital to Thonburi and made Wat Arun his residence. The temple lost its royal status after the assassination of the monarch by the conspirators. Under Rama I, the main shrine of Thailand, the statue of the Emerald Buddha, was kept here for a short time, then a separate sanctuary was built for the relic on the opposite shore, where the first ruler of the Chakri dynasty founded the new capital of the kingdom. The stupa's height rose to 81 m during the reign of Rama III, and since then the building remained the highest point of the urban landscape until the construction of skyscrapers began in the metropolis. The architectural masterpiece has become a popular tourist attraction and a recognizable symbol of Bangkok, imprinted on postcards and other souvenirs. The central multi tiered prang symbolizes the sacred Mount Meru, the center of the universe and the abode of Brahma in the cosmology of Hinduism. The white walls, decorated with colorful drawings, shine in the rays of the sun, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. An equally fantastic sight awaits tourists at sunset, when the grandiose structure acquires a pinkish hue. At dusk, spectacular lighting turns on, and a 15-minute light show is held in the evenings. A distinctive feature of the Temple of Dawn is its decorative design. The surface of all structures and most of the statues is covered with patterns made of ceramic fragments and seashells. Chinese porcelain was used to create the ornaments. Since porcelain products cost fabulous money, broken dishes and fragments of glazed tiles were bought up for a song in China. The cargo was delivered in the ship's holds as ballast, and thus it was possible to avoid paying taxes.