Wat Arun Beyond Reality: Step into a Virtual Journey Like Never Before 

In a bid to promote cultural tourism, a team led by researchers from Chulalongkorn University has incorporated cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) technology to bring Wat Arun to life. Through the “Temple of Dawn VR Game” project, visitors can explore exclusive, restricted areas of the temple and appreciate the historical, cultural, and architectural beauty of one of Thailand’s most prominent landmarks.  

Wat Arun VR Game: Revealing Unseen Experiences 

Among Thailand’s iconic landmarks, Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, holds immense cultural and historical significance. The temple’s mesmerizing corn-shaped stupa rises dramatically from the bank of Chao Phraya River, captivating all who visit.   

“Wat Arun is one of the major landmarks I usually bring foreign friends and international guests to visit. Many were impressed when I shared the temple’s historical and cultural details. This made me realize that without a guide, many tourists would miss enticing information about the temple’s history and architecture,” shared Dr. Ratchaneekorn Ratchatakorntrakoon, researcher at the Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University. 

As the mastermind behind the project, Dr. Ratchaneekorn hopes the VR game will enrich visitors’ experiences while promoting learning and cultural tourism.  

A New Perspective Through Virtual Reality 

Building on her previous experience in creating VR applications at Chulalongkorn University’s Memorial Hall, Dr. Ratchaneekorn recognized VR technology’s potential to revolutionize storytelling.  

“This project aims to provide an immersive storytelling experience, bringing the temple’s stories and heritage to life,” she explained. 

According to the project’s tagline, “Reveal Unseen Experiences”, the Temple of Dawn VR Game allows tourists exclusive access to areas typically off-limits. These include: 

• The top of the central corn-shaped stupa  
• The interiors of the directional pavilions housing Buddha images 
• A bird’s-eye view of Wat Arun, offering new perspectives on its intricate architecture 

The project employs cutting-edge 3D scanning technology to recreate a virtual space of Wat Arun, enabling users to:  

• Explore restricted areas 
• Learn about the stupa’s architecture 
• Discover stories of Buddha’s life depicted within the temple 

Collaboration Across Disciplines 

Funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), the VR project brought together key contributors, including the Wat Arun management committee under the guidance of Phra Vajiraratanaborn, and Bhadravarna Bongsasilp from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. 

“Their expertise is invaluable. Any work involving heritage sites requires strict adherence to conservation guidelines and the accuracy of academic content,” said Dr. Ratchaneekorn. 

The Wireless Communication Ecosystem Research Unit of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering, led by Prof. Dr. Lunchakorn Wuttisittikulkij, developed the VR application. Meanwhile, the Information Technology Center of the Fine Arts Department meticulously produced the 3D scans and drone imagery. 

“This project requires perspectives from both humanities and engineering. Humanities researchers contribute conceptual ideas and storytelling elements, while engineers focus on technical feasibility,” added Dr. Ratchaneekorn. 

A diverse team of experts and students from Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, and the United States also joined, bringing skills in engineering, coding, academic translation, and cultural research.  

From Vision to Reality: The Creation Process 

Creating a VR experience that offers a unique perspective of Wat Arun involved several intricate steps:   

1. Brainstorming: Developing the game’s storyline and objectives collaboratively. 
2. 3D Scanning: Capturing detailed models of the temple, a process complicated by massive file sizes that often overwhelmed computers. 
3. Script Development: Crafting Thai scripts and translating them into English—a process that took 5 months. While the current version offers Thai and English, a Mandarin version is planned. 
4. Infographics and VR Development: Designing engaging visuals and integrating them into the VR platform. 
5. Final Adjustments: Resolving technical issues such as reducing file sizes and optimizing 3D models for VR compatibility. 

“Throughout the project, our team—comprising humanities and technology researches—held regular meetings, often late at night. These sessions helped us align our visions and balance cultural authenticity with technological innovation,” said Dr. Ratchaneekorn.  

Overcoming Challenges: Technology Meets Tradition 

Dr. Ratchaneekorn identified two key challenges in developing the Temple of Dawn VR Game:     

1. Technical Limitations: Large 3D files slowed development process. The engineering team had to compress files and adjust textures for compatibility. 
   
   “The 3D scanning process for artifacts, Buddha statues, and architectural elements such as pillars had to occur early in the morning before the site opened to the public,’’ said Dr. Ratchaneekorn. The project incorporated 13 3D artists to help in the scanning and modeling process. Due to the complexity of the site’s details and the large file sizes, phase 1 took over one year to complete. 

2. Cultural Understanding: Tourists unfamiliar with Thai cultural norms sometimes behaved inappropriately at the temple.  
   
   “We believe that the VR game will serve as an ideal educational tool, promoting an understanding of Wat Arun’s significance and encouraging respectful behavior to Thai traditions,’’ Dr. Ratchaneekorn emphasized. 

Despite these challenges, the project was successfully completed and had been introduced to tourists for trial. “Tourists gave positive feedback during the testing phase, appreciating the opportunity to engage with Wat Arun in previously unavailable ways,” Dr. Ratchaneekorn noted.   

How to Play: The Temple of Dawn VR Game  

Designed as a multi-player game, The Temple of Dawn VR experience mirrors real-life tourist dynamics, as visitors often come in pairs or groups.  

Gameplay Process: 

1. Player 1 wears the VR headset. 
2. Player 2 provides hints using a document guide. 
3. Player 2 leads Player 1 to complete the various missions.  

Solo visitors can team up with on-site project coordinators. 

The Temple of Dawn VR game includes four sub-games: 

1. The Old Sermon Hall (Vihan-Noi)  
2. The Old Ordination Hall (Ubosot-Noi) 
3. The Directional Pavilions 
4. The Central Prang 

Each sub-game includes an introduction, game rules, missions to accomplish, knowledge gained, and knowledge summaries.   

Each game session lasts approximately 5-7 minutes. Players can choose one or multiple sub-games. After completing the VR experience, visitors return the document. However, for future reference, the document can be downloaded via a QR code. 

Educational Opportunities and Cultural Impact 

Dr. Ratchaneekorn concluded that the Temple of Dawn VR Game provides significant educational and cultural benefits:   

• For Tourists: Enhances their understanding of Thai culture and encourages respectful behavior in temples. 
• For Tour Guides: Equips guides with deeper insights to enrich visitor experiences. 
• For Students: Supports academic research and offers practical experience in VR development. 
• For Society: Serves as an educational tool to explore the biography of the Lord Buddha. 

Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Cultural Asset 

The final version of the VR application will be soon handed over to Wat Arun. Plans are underway to train temple staff on system operation. Although set to be available for visitors this November, access to the VR game may initially be limited due to the high cost of VR headsets and specialized equipment.  

“Our long-term goal is to make this innovative tool a sustainable asset that preserves cultural heritage while engaging a global audience,” said Dr. Rachaneekorn. 

A Transformative Initiative in Cultural Preservation 

With two academic papers already published, this groundbreaking project paves the way for future innovations in cultural preservation.  

“Research should not just end with reports and publications–it must serve society. The Temple of Dawn VR project shows how interdisciplinary collaboration can bring cultural heritage to life, making it accessible and engaging for future generations.”  

Dr. Ratchaneekorn hopes this initiative will inspire further collaborations between technology and the humanities, proving that innovation and tradition can coexist beautifully. 

Bonus: Explore Wat Pho with the Insight Wat Pho App 

Discover the “Insight Wat Pho” app, an exciting innovation by Dr. Wilasinee Suksawang, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture.  The app offers directions, key points of interest, an augmented reality floor plan, and the fun “Yak Wat Pho” game, where users can hunt for the temple’s iconic Giants.  

Dr. Wilasinee believes this app will have a meaningful impact on culture, the environment, and the economy, enriching every visit to Wat Pho.  

Explore Wat Pho like never before! For more details, visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/128940/. 

For more information about the Temple of Dawn VR game, contact: Dr. Ratchaneekorn Ratchatakorntrakoon at ratchaneekorn.r@chula.ac.th or the Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University at 02-218-7494. 

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