Wat Arun the Temple of the Dawn from the river side(Chao Praya)

The Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun is name after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna. The Wat really looks better from a distance than close up, and you're not missing out too much even if you only view from across the river. It consists of a massive elongated prang (Khmer-style tower), and is surrounded by four smaller prangs. The prang is described by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as 104m high, while most other sources quote figures around 80-85m. It is decorated by bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China, a hallmark of the reign of King Rama III. Wat Arun is a little unusual as it's really the only major tourist attraction on the Thonburi side of the river. The best way to get to Wat Arun is on the river. The Tha Tien express boat pier, at the southwest corner of the Grand Palace / Wat Phra Kaew, is opposite Wat Arun and boats leave every few minutes and the ferry crossing is only 2B. You can get to Tha Tien on the Chao Phraya River Express boats from any other pier, or take a taxi to it. Buses that go near Tha Tien are ordinary buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 62 and 91 which stop on Maharat road. There are also plenty of Thonburi canal tours that go here. It is open every day from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Officially, entrance to the Wat is 20B Sometimes if you walk around the Wat grounds, you will be requested for a donation (with a book showing how everyone else gave 100B/200B), and sometimes the staff at the pier will cite some excuse and charge another 10B or so to let you through.