The temple was built during the Ayutthaya period and was originally called "Wat Makok" after the name of the local village "Tambol Bangmakok." Meaning "Village of Olives".

Wat Arun gets its name from "Aruna", the Indian god of the dawn, hence its common name "The Temple of Dawn".

The location of the temple is in the area that used to be occupied by the palace of King Taksin who re-established the Siamese Kingdom after the fall of Ayuttaya more than two hundred years ago. The main Buddha image is believed to have been designed by King Rama II.

Wat Arun, often called "The Temple of Dawn", is one of the most remarkable visual identities of Bangkok. The imposing Khmer-style "prang" or tower is 104 metres tall and decorated with bits of porcelain that was used as ballast by boats coming from China. It is surrounded by four smaller "prangs". Construction of the "prangs" were started by King Rama II and completed by King Rama II.