Wat Arun is a Royal temple of the first rank. It is on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River and ies to the north of the old Royal Palace of Thon Buri. It was first built during the Ayutthaya period and was then called as Wat Makok and later changed to Wat Chaeng. King Taksin of Thon Buri repaired the old buildings and made them his royal temple. During the reign of King Rama I, the prince who was later become Rama II built the new assembly hall which was finished in A.D. 1820. When he ascended the
throne he gave the temple the name Wat Arun, commonly known as the Temple of the dawn. King Rama III built a Prang there 81 meters high and renovated the whole temple, but he passed away before he could celebrate its inauguration. King Rama IV carried out the celebration ceremoniously and added the Mondop in the compound.