White Temple in Chiang Rai. The white temple in Thailand Wat Rong Khun is a brilliant splendor! White temple in Thailand - Wat Rong Khun
white temple in Thailand - the most unusual temple that I have ever seen.
White Temple - Wat Rong Khun located in the North of Thailand, next to. Many people who have seen a photo of this magnificent temple on the Internet travel to the North of Thailand just to visit this unusual White Temple.
Wat Rong Khun - at all new temple, the construction of which began in 1997 and continues to this day. The temple looks like an ice house (it would be to the taste of the Snow Queen from a fairy tale š or like a sugar palace and it is not entirely clear what it is made of. Wat Rong Khun is completely white, which is why it is most often called White Temple.
It is being built by a Thai artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat, with his own money from the sale of paintings. The artist refused sponsors, he does not want anyone to dictate any conditions to him, he wants to do everything in the temple the way only he wants.
They say the most best time to visit the White Temple at dawn or sunset, when the white color is beautifully reflected in the rays of the sun.
We spent the night in, slept in the morning, had breakfast at our Baan Bua Guest House hotel and arrived at the White Temple only at 10 am. Were not pleasantly surprised by the number of people near the temple.
For the first time in our entire trip to the North of Thailand, we saw so many sightseeing buses in the parking lot. We had a hard time finding a spot on the side of the road to park our little car!
Yes, Wat Rong Khun is amazing. This is the most unusual and non-traditional Buddhist temple. It is made of white material, which symbolizes the purity of the Buddha and of mirror inserts, which symbolize the wisdom of the Buddha. 
Around the temple is a lake with fish. You can feed them by buying food nearby. 
There was a queue at the temple. I had to wait a while to get to the bridge, through which you have to go through to get into the White Temple itself.
Before entering the bridge to get to Paradise š The bridge says that in order to get to Paradise (to the White Temple), one must pass from ordinary worldly life through Hell on the bridge. And thousands of hands of sinners stretch out from Hell. I'll tell you the sight is not very pleasant.
In general, of course, the temple is interesting and beautiful, but it did not leave pleasant emotions for me. Rather the opposite. You donāt feel the energy here, you donāt want to stay here for a long time, like in a temple on a mountain in Chiang Dao.
Before entering Wat Rong Khun, take off your shoes. You canāt take pictures inside, so Iāll describe it in words: inside the temple is almost empty. Only in the center is the mummy of a monk (we still didnāt understand if it was a mummy or just a doll?). The walls are painted with the author's works of the artist. On the walls are scenes from the films "The Matrix", "Avatar", "Star Wars". The event of September 11 is also displayed here. The work on painting the walls of the temple continues to this day.
We leave the White Temple and go to inspect the territory. In total, 9 snow-white fabulous buildings are planned on the territory. And now there are many interesting sculptures on the territory. 
Dragon spewing water š 
On the territory there is a well where you can throw coins and make wishes. If you get to the center of the well, the wish will come true!
You can write a wish on a special leaf and hang it on a tree. There are several such trees on the territory of the temple. 
You can sign a memory card and put the seal of the White Temple! 
On the territory you can sit down to relax in the shade of trees 
funny signs indicating that drinking and smoking is evil!
Nearby in the building we bought souvenirs, magnets. Here you can also get acquainted with the paintings of the artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and even buy them.
And on the territory there is such a golden building. What do you think it is? š
No, this is not a Buddha palace, this is a toilet š Before entering, you need to take off your shoes and put on changeable shoes. 
Watch a short video we shot near the White Temple in Thailand
How to get to Wat Rong Khun:
- on your own transport: from Chiang Rai you need to go south, towards Chiang Mai for about 13 km.
- by minibus from Chiang Rai for 20 baht (depart from the city center, from the old bus station)
- by bus Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai. Ask to be dropped off near the White Temple.
Opening hours of the White Temple:
The entrance to the temple is open from 7:00 to 17:00 in the low season, and in the high season (November-February) until 18:00. But you can admire Wat Rong Khun at any time of the day or night š
If the snow queen had a residence in Thailand, it would probably be Wat Rong Khun or, as it is also called, the white temple. This amazing, beautiful, amazing (we can continue indefinitely) place is located a few kilometers from the northern city of Thailand Chiang Rai. Already driving along the highway you can see the snow-white tops shimmering in the sun. temple complex. Airy, like sea foam, buildings attract the eye and attract like a magnet. And already at the entrance, curious tourists understand that they didnāt come in vain - something completely special awaits them here.
Wat Rong Khun
Imagine the mixture of Thai architecture, sculpture, Buddhist symbols and contemporary surrealism. Paint it all white, add a mirrored mosaic inlay, and set it against the piercing turquoise of a tropical sky. This is how, briefly, one can describe the appearance of the white temple in Chiang Rai.
This is a truly unique place, striking with its appearance, and concealing a deep hidden meaning. There is not a single random feature or superfluous that stands out from general philosophy, details. Absolutely everything here, from the main buildings and sculptural groups to fences and rubbish bins, is created in a single author's style and carries a certain semantic load.
The White Temple is not an ordinary place for worshiping the Buddha and religious rites. Rather, even to say: quite unusual. The main distinguishing feature of Vata is, of course, the white color and the inlay of small mirrors, which symbolize the purity and wisdom of the Buddha. But, besides the usual statues of a saint and heroes of Buddhist mythology, visitors are surprised to find here a reflection of modern world art.
The main building of the temple is located in the middle of the pond. Huge black fish or white and golden carps swim lazily in its waters or lie at the bottom. On the banks of the reservoir and in the middle of it are statues of Buddha, mythical heroes and surreal sculptures in the spirit of the works of Salvador Dali.
In order to get to the temple, visitors must first go through a small semicircle, symbolizing the human world, then a path laid through a forest of white human hands, representing Hell and the path to happiness through opposition to human passions. The sight is a little creepy, but impressive. Then follows the bridge, which is a symbol of rebirth. Its entrance is served by two giant fangs - the mouth of Rahu, after which the demons of Rahu, who control life and death, menacingly look at the visitors. Having crossed the bridge through the gates of heaven, a person enters the abode of the Buddha, and, in the language of Christians, to paradise.
The decoration of the temple even more impresses its visitors. Instead of traditional Buddhist frescoes depicting the existence of the Buddha, mythical heroes, demons and symbols of virtue, the walls are decorated with paintings similar to the works of Hieronymus Bosch or Salvador Dali, as if they lived in Thailand today. There you can find a stylized image of the twin towers of New York, into which planes crash, Superman, Spider-Man, Avatar flying on Uryuk Makto, Neo from the Matrix, Predator and other heroes of modern cinema. Moreover, all this surprisingly coexists with images inherent in traditional Thai painting. These intricate paintings depict the manifestation of good and evil. modern world and encourage us to think about our future. Each work is not considered complete and is constantly updated with new characters. Also in the temple there are walls that are just waiting for the artist's brush to touch them.
Opposite the entrance, right under the Buddha statue, sits a meditating monk dressed in traditional orange robes. According to one version - this is an embalmed mummy, according to another - a wax doll.
To the left of the main temple, several more buildings were built: a gazebo, a library, a gallery and ... a toilet. The latter contrasts sharply with all other buildings. Striking with skillful carvings and airy decorative elements, it is completely painted in gold. While the white color of the entire complex symbolizes the mind and purity of the Buddha's teachings, the golden color of this completely earthy structure symbolizes the body.
Near the gazebo there are several trees, on which for 30 baht you can hang a piece of foil with your desire.
But the most amazing feature of Wat Rong Khun is that it is the product of the imagination of just one author - the Thai artist painter Chalemchaya Kositpipat. He builds a temple on his own land solely with funds received from the sale of his works. Mr. Kositpipat refuses any sponsorship investments so that the flight of his fantasy is not limited by any material obligations.
The history of the creation of the white temple
The construction of the white temple began in the 97th, and its completion was planned by 2008. However, the popularity that Wat has gained among tourists from all over the world has become an occasion to make the project even more grandiose. To date, Chalemchai Kositpipat has planned work for 50-80 years. He wants to build until his death, and hopes that then his work will be continued by followers and students. The author's dream is to build the most beautiful Buddhist temple in the world, under whose arches thousands of people will practice meditation and praise the Buddha.
Architect and artist Chalemchai Kositpipat
It is hard to believe that quite recently, now obvious to everyone, the genius of Chalemchaya Kositpipat was not wanted to be recognized in Thai society. Known for intricate paintings that combine traditional Thai art with symbols modern culture, the artist has long irritated the Thai public.
Chalemchai was born on February 15, 1955 in the small village of Ban Rong Khun in the northern province of Thailand, Chiang Rai.
From an early age, he was fond of drawing, and, years later, began to study art at Bangkok's Silpakorn University (Silpakorn). In 1977, Chalemchai received a bachelor's degree in painting, and already at that time he began to show a clear craving for a mixture of modern and Buddhist art, which caused hostility among many religious and political figures. However, despite anyone's opinion, Chalemchay continued to go his own way and from the 80th year of the last century exhibited his works at numerous exhibitions in Europe, Asia and America.
After Mr. Kositpipat painted the walls of the Buddhapadipa Buddhist temple in London in his peculiar style, a wave of criticism again fell upon his head, which stopped only after the King of Thailand himself recognized Chalemchaya's talent, having bought several works from him.
To date, many of Kositpipat's paintings are in the royal palace and are closed to public attention. And the fact that at the auction of Thai art in the 98th year in the house of Christie one of his works went under the hammer for 17.5 thousand dollars, clearly indicates that the artist has received worldwide recognition.
It was with the proceeds from the sale of his paintings that Chalemchai Kositpipat purchased a plot in his native village. There, to this day, he is building the temple of his dreams, which delights and excites the minds of millions of tourists from all over the world for more than ten years.
Opening hours and prices
The White Temple is open to visitors daily from 6:30 to 18:00. The Wat Museum of Paintings, where you can buy the artist's works or their reproductions, is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00. Entrance is absolutely free, but you should remember that photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple.
How to get to the white temple
You can get to this amazing structure by driving 13 km south of the center of Chiang Rai along Highway No. 118. You can do this by songteo or by rented transport.
is not only a popular resort with a hot climate and exotic landscapes. In addition to the tourist beauties, this country also attracts with its unique architecture and soothing atmosphere.
Many people come here to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life, relax, and also enjoy amazing temples , each of them combines traditional elements of Buddhist culture, but, nevertheless, strikes with originality and uniqueness of the architectural solution.
White pearl of Thailand
To date, perhaps the most unusual and memorable temple in Thailand can rightly be called Wat Rong Khun, which is better known as white temple. Compared to many other architectural works, it is one of the newest. Furthermore, its construction continues to this day. .
The first stone in its foundation was laid in 1997. The idea of āāthis complex belongs to the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. In order not to depend on sponsors, he invests his own funds in the creation of the temple. The main assistant in this business and, concurrently, the chief engineer is the brother of the artist.
Why is the White Temple so famous all over the world? First of all, its white color, thanks to which it got its second name. Everything from the floor to the decorative elements in this place is done in a radiant white color. In addition, the walls are covered with a mosaic of mirrored pieces.
White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) is a symbol of the purity of the Buddha, which incorporates the best traditions of Buddhist art and modern design approaches. It looks even more magical and mysterious during the evening sunset and morning sunrise. Bright rays, falling into thousands of mirror fragments, create a simply magical sight. A lot of people compare it to residence of the Snow Queen .
Entrance to Wat Rong Khun begins with a passage through the gates of hell . This path is called the path of doubt and suffering. On both sides it is surrounded by the hands of sinners stretching out of the ground - narakov. According to legend, they serve their sentences for all sins in the Buddhist purgatory, which is called Naraka. The sight is both frightening and mesmerizing.
Next, you need to go through the huge sparkling horns, which symbolize the mouth Rahu- mythological serpent - a demon that devours the Sun and Moon during eclipses. Then the path leads to a bridge over a small pond, which symbolizes the river that separates worlds of the dead and alive.
By the way, you should know that for ideological reasons, the movement on the bridge is only one-way. However, you definitely wonāt forget about it, since a special person with a mouthpiece stands next to him and constantly warns visitors about this. At the end of the bridge in front of the chapels, you can see the sculptures of the Buddha in the lotus position.
The roof of the temple is decorated with statues of four animals, which are symbols of the four elements:
- earth symbolizes the elephant
- water- fabulous snakes naked,
- wind- swan,
- the fire- a lion.
Also on the territory of the complex you can see many other sculptures of various mythical creatures and especially the Buddha. In general, there are so many different figurines, sculptures and other decorative elements here and they are so thought out to the smallest detail that they can be examined and studied for hours.
The temple itself is not large in size when compared with other temples in Thailand. But it is worth considering that this is just a part of a large complex, the construction of which is still far from being completed.
What surprises the temple inside
Many tourists, based on the external beauty of the temple and the first impression, are looking forward to what something incredible and otherworldly will be waiting for them inside Wat Rong Khun. But many can expect disappointment and even a little shock. Inside the temple is far from snow-white . Moreover, all its walls are painted with colored graffiti, which in a peculiar way illustrate world events and modern heroes. For example, the tragedy in New York on September 11 is presented in a very interesting interpretation.
Also on the walls you can see:
- spider man,
- Neo from the movie "Matrix",
- batman,
- superman,
- Jedi from "Star Wars".
On the other wall is a modern interpretation of the end of the world, which shows the catastrophes of the Earth. The temple has two Buddha statues. and a large image of him on one of the walls.
The painting is constantly supplemented by various events and phenomena from modern life. The idea is to make it clear in the future when these paintings were created. The side walls are not yet fully completed.
A little scary is the figure of a monk, which is also inside the temple. According to some sources, this is a wax figure, and according to others, the embalmed body of a real monk. Either way, it looks very plausible.
Taking photos and filming inside is prohibited. In addition, you must take off your shoes when entering.
Where is the White Temple in Thailand
There are several ways to get to Wat Rong Khun. It is located at a distance 14 kilometers from downtown Chiang Rai . The first and most comfortable option - take a bus at the old bus station, which can be found in the city center, next to the night bazaar. The ticket price will cost about 20 baht. You can not take a return ticket, because you can go back. Boarding any passing bus.
The second option is rent a moped and go on your own. In this case, the traveler needs to go straight along the highway towards Chiang Mai, the temple will be located on right side, there will definitely be a pointer.
The third way is use local cheap transport called tuk-tuk. In addition, there are always taxis and travel agencies that are ready to quickly and comfortably show the tourist any sights.
- Temple opening hours from 6.30 to 18.00. Entrance is free for everyone.
The White Temple of Wat Rong Khun is a real find for those who appreciate art that combines ancient religious and mythological motifs and modern art. But it will also be of interest to ordinary people who just want to relax and enjoy the divine beauty of the creation of human hands.
Thailand Futuristic Temple Wat Rong Khun May 4th, 2013
Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple, by artist Chalermchai Kasitpipat, is a very beautiful structure, despite being built by an enthusiast with his own money.
Seeing for the first time images of the āWhite Templeā, also known as Wat Rong Khun, you can decide that this is just high-quality computer graphics. The architecture of the building is so unique that the reality of the temple is simply unbelievable! However, the āWhite Templeā is quite real and is located in the north of Thailand.
Wat Rong Khun is one of the most unique buildings in Thailand. Unusual architecture and dozens (if not hundreds) of snow-white alabaster sculptures amaze tourists from the very first minutes!
The White Temple, as a symbol of the purity of the Buddha and nirvana, a reminder of the eternal struggle between good and evil, was launched in 1998 and should consist of 9 buildings. For more than 12 years, construction has been going on, and Chalermchai believes that the final project will be completed in about 90 years. During this time, he will have time to die, and after his death, young architects will complete the long-term construction.
It is interesting that the artist Chalermchai directs all the funds from the sale of his paintings to the construction, completely refusing sponsorship so that no one can influence his plans and imagination. He has already invested several million dollars in the temple. True, there is some doubt that so many talents could be concentrated in one person in order to manage to paint the interiors of Wat Rong Khun on their own, maintain the entire infrastructure in good condition and, moreover, manage to earn a living. He probably still accepts donations, especially since the religious building turned out to be truly unearthly beauty. And for this you need to devote a lot of time to design.
The temple is located in the province of Chiang Rai, in a place called Amphuar. The construction of the temple began relatively recently (in 1998), and some objects are still under construction. One of the initiators of the construction is a certain Kositpipat Chalermchai, who in Thailand was called the modern Salvador Dali. It was the drawings and drawings of this artist that served as the basis for creating the image of the White Temple. In addition, the man fully sponsors the construction of the temple, and almost all the construction objects were built exclusively at his expense! The artist himself answers questions about financing that he builds the temple with his own money due to the fact that in this way no one can dictate his terms to him. In general, the āWhite Templeā is a living embodiment of the fantasies of a Thai artist. Naturally, such large-scale work is definitely beyond the capacity of one person, so Kositpipat attracted his brother to the work, whom he appointed as the chief engineer of an ambitious project.
The artist himself, Chalermchai Kasitpipata, answers questions about financing that he is building the temple with his own money due to the fact that in this way no one can dictate his terms to him. In general, the āWhite Templeā is a living embodiment of the fantasies of a Thai artist. Naturally, such large-scale work is definitely beyond the capacity of one person, so Kositpipat attracted his brother to the work, whom he appointed as the chief engineer of an ambitious project.
The territory of the temple itself is well ennobled. There are many fountains, bizarre sculptures, and beautiful fish swimming in a small pond. It is worth noting that the entrance to the territory of the temple is absolutely free!
The meaning of the compositions of most of the sculptures is very difficult to understand. Here you have dragons so familiar to Asia, and hundreds of hands that reach out to you, as if wanting to grab. Moreover, if dragons are depicted as very peaceful creatures, then the hand sculptures are rather sinister!
Inside the temple is no less interesting than outside. There are several sculptures and images of Buddha here, but the highlight of the temple's interior is a painting that depicts a battle between good and evil! In addition to standard plots, there was a place on the canvas for modern heroes, such as Neo from The Matrix (the artist considers Keanu Reeves his favorite actor), Jedi from Star Wars, robots and various monsters! And all this surrealism is in good harmony with the images of the Buddha and his disciples! Photography inside the temple is strictly prohibited.
The aforementioned picture Kositpipat Chalermchai created for three years. Talking about his creation, the artist notes that he tried to show the eternal truths (good and evil) in understandable images for modern man. Here is such an unusual interpretation!
Located in the province of Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun is different from other temples in Thailand in many ways. Made in white, it seems to emphasize the purity of the Buddha, and the sparkling glass speaks of the wisdom of the Buddha shining both on earth and in the entire Universe. Each element and architectural form carries some kind of semantic load. For example, the bridge is seen as a transition from the endless cycles of rebirth to the abode of the Buddha, and the semicircle in front of the bridge symbolizes the earthly world.
The murals of the temple also deserve a few words. In religious scenes, the author uses modern plots from the films "The Matrix", "Star Wars", as well as high-profile incidents - for example, the September 9 terrorist attack in the United States. According to the guide, the artist thus wants to reach out to the minds of young people, talking to them in their own language. It is doubtful that such illustrations would incline anyone to more religiosity, but it looks unusual and fresh. The rest of the murals that adorn the temple mainly depict attempts to avoid earthly temptations and achieve nirvana.
On the roof are animals, each of which personifies earth, air, water and fire.
According to tourists who visited this miracle of cult architecture, the splendor of the temple is simply amazing, it is good at dawn, when the first rays of the sun glide over the roof of the temple, and against the backdrop of a clear clear sky, and at sunset, and even at night, illuminated by the moon. 
The White Temple combines a beautiful blend of traditional Buddhist art with contemporary design. The completely white walls and sculptures sparkle, reflecting the shades of dawn and evening sunset. The walls are decorated with small pieces of mirror glass, which gives the structure a heavenly airiness and a magical look.
Here is another interpretation of this architecture: The main building is surrounded by a pond with white fish. The bridge leading to the temple represents the cycle of rebirths on the way to the abode of the Buddha. The circle with fangs in front of the bridge symbolizes the mouth of Rahu, representing the circles of hell and suffering. In front of the chapels and at the end of the bridge are several sculptures of Buddha in the lotus position surrounded by the spirits of the world. Inside the temple, the walls are in golden tones, in the center of the golden flame is the altar of the Buddha. Four animals are depicted on the four walls, symbolizing the four elements: the elephant stands on the ground, the naga stands above the water, the wings of the swan represent the wind, and the lion's mane represents fire.
His White Temple is a symbol of paradise, where a narrow bridge leads across a river full of sinners. It is important to know that, having entered the Temple on the bridge, it is no longer possible to return back along it - you end up back in hell. Each sculpture, each detail in this carved snow-white splendor has a certain meaning and purpose, starting with the white color of the Temple itself - a symbol of the purity of the Buddha, and glass interspersed in everything around - a symbol of the wisdom of the Buddha, which shines brightly throughout the Earth and the Universe.
Kositpipat Chalermchai created this picture for three years. As the guide girl explained, such images, unusual for the temple, are explained by the fact that the artist wants to show the eternal truths in a language that is more understandable and close to the modern young generation, hence such an unusual interpretation.
No less symbolic is the interior of the White Temple. The walls here are painted in Chalemchay's favorite style. Visitors are presented with an impressive painting, symbolizing the struggle between the forces of Evil and Good. Here you can see Neo and Superman, rockets flying into space, a Hydra that looks like a gas station hose and devouring twin towers, cars, mobile phones and laser-shooting planes. All these themes, unusual for temples, are succinctly inscribed in national motifs, making it possible to present eternal truths clearly and in a language understandable to modern young people.
Around the temple there are many unusual alabaster-mirror sculptures that amaze the imagination of visitors.
Opposite the White Temple is the Golden Temple, which turns out to be just a public toilet. Here is such an unusual view of the artist on things!
Also on the territory there is a gallery where you can see other works of the artist and buy yourself some souvenir as a keepsake of visiting such an unusual place.
The work on the decoration of the temple is still ongoing. Nearby is a workshop where amazing sculptures are created.
Also in Chiang Rai there is another interesting creation of the unusual artist Kositpipat Chalermchai - this is a clock, looking at which there is no doubt about who created it.
The destination of our first trip to Chiang Rai was Thailand's magnificent White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). It is located just a few kilometers from the city of Chiang Rai, we noticed it on the road when we were heading to. The white tops of the White temple shimmering in the sun (as Wat Rong Khun is called by foreigners) are visible directly from the track. Then we still came here, traveling by car in the north.
When the whole snow-white-mirror-carved temple opens up at once, you realize that you didnāt see anything from the road. This view is mesmerizing, and there is a feeling that you are in a fairy tale. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the Snow Queen's castle. Wat Rong Khun is beautiful, maybe even too beautiful to be a temple. This is a real work of art. Oleg very aptly compared it with the Tretyakov Gallery. And although Thais come here to pray, it seemed to us that in terms of energy this place is largely inferior to the same dilapidated old wats in Chiang Saen.
Probably, this impression is due to the fact that, firstly, this place is relatively new (construction began in 1997 and, by the way, is still ongoing), and secondly, because it is very touristy. There were quite a lot of visitors, although they were somehow evenly distributed over the neighborhood and did not often catch the eye and in the frame.
At the entrance to the territory of the White Temple, a guard sits and hangs a sign that due to obscene behavior (whose, we did not understand), foreign tourists are allowed only accompanied by their guide. We hesitantly trampled in front of the gate, and then nevertheless decided to try our luck, they would stop, they would stop us. But they calmly passed without being stopped by law enforcement officers.
A beautiful bridge leads to the entrance to Wat Rong Khun, symbolizing the road to enlightenment, the place where the Buddha lives (in our opinion, simply Paradise). But before you get there, you need to overcome the human world (a small semicircle right in front of the bridge itself), and then go through Hell with the outstretched hands of sinners (the large semicircle ending in fangs is the mouth of Rahu). Itās a pity that before the trip I didnāt read about everything about it on the Internet in advance, it would be more interesting to wander there, understanding whatās what.
And here we are at the door of Paradise at Wat Rong Khun. We take off our shoes and go inside. And there ... almost nothing. Only originally painted walls and a seated figure of some saint, apparently a monk. I found on the Internet that he was embalmed, like our Lenin, others claim that this is just a doll. I donāt know whatās true and whatās not, but he looks completely alive, which makes him creepy. The same .
Impressed by the original painting of the walls. We, however, did not understand who made it. Whether the creator of the temple Chalemchai Kositpipat (Chalermchai Kositpipat), or several authors. Having pestered someone else's guide with questions, we learned that the painted heroes of the Matrix, Avatar, Terminator, etc. are a symbol of the fact that people now mostly live in an illusory world invented by themselves, and not in reality, which is not good. Well, about weapons, missiles, twin towers and the events of September 11th, I generally keep quiet.
And also, as we were told, the painting is constantly replenished with various phenomena from our modern life (Avatar is proof of this), so to speak, keeps up with the times. This is done so that later it will be clear exactly when these paintings were created, a kind of time milestones. One wall, by the way, is still completely empty. It is interesting that it will appear on it like this, that way, in 50 years ...
And a year ago, the Avatar was not here ...
By the way, photography inside the temple is prohibited. We found out the reason later, from one of the drivers who gave us a lift. The drawings on the wall are copyrighted works and for some reason their creator (creators?) do not want them to be distributed via the Internet.
Construction is still ongoing. This is evidenced not only by the white buildings standing behind the Wat Rong Khun temple, but still bald, without frills, blank buildings, as we called them, but also by the blanks of those very white-mirror beauties not far under the canopy. It was interesting to study how everything is born and created. It is said that the complex will include nine of these marvelous buildings. It will be interesting to come back here in 10 years, it will just be a real fairy tale!
Throughout the territory there are various sculptures, no less amazing and original than the white temple of Wat Rong Khun itself. Each of these sculptures certainly bears some sacred meaning, but, unfortunately, we only understood that, well, itās completely for dummies - smoking and drinking is not good.
Rejoiced that these reproaches-warnings did not apply to us, we went to explore the amazing golden building-palace. I wondered for a long time what it could be. And by the fact that a man and a woman are almost kissing at the top, I decided that this is some kind of our registry office. Naive, can you imagine what my disappointment was when I read the inscription that horrified me - Toilet ?! Yes Yes! Golden Toilet! Mind unbelievable! But it's beautiful, like a fairy tale ...
Well, having finally bought a magnet from this bewitching place, we also studied the Lost and Found showcases with the exhibits presented there - lost things. Do you know what they lose the most? Camera cases and caps! But what struck me most of all was the money sealed in bags with a signed amount! And there are many of those.
Short video
Visiting Information
Entrance 50 baht. Children up to 120 cm free of charge.
It is open from 7 am to 5 pm. In the season (November-February) it is open until 6 pm. But since the territory is not very large, you can get quite close to the temple at any time of the day and take beautiful photos. Exactly at dark time For days, the backlight is lit and the temple looks especially magical. Well, I mean, even if you pass through in the evening or at night, then take a look, itās only 100 meters from the highway to go.
How to get there
The easiest way, of course, is by renting a car. It allows great freedom in planning and moving around the country. Otherwise, you can take a minibus from Chiang Rai from the old bus station (city center) for 20 baht. Or take a minibus or bus from Chiang Mai and ask to be dropped off on the highway in front of the temple.
Overnight stay
It is convenient to spend the night in Chiang Rai so as not to rush anywhere. You can see a little of the city itself, its central part and visit several sights in the area, for example, the antagonist of the White. An overnight stay is also convenient if you have a whole trip to the north of Thailand.
I once stayed in a cheap Baan Nukanong Guesthouse (), but it is very simple, not for everyone. Fell in the first available, did not have the strength to look. I think it makes sense to see something else and book in advance. The easiest way is to look for hotels on, there are all discounts and the most complete database of hotels. Well, you will book further already either in Booking or in Agoda, which will offer.
Here are a couple of hotels that I have noted for myself for my next trip: Sirin Place Boutique and Nice Inn Town Hotel and Apartments. Both in the center, with a high rating, very inexpensive. Nice Inn Town has very cool Deluxe and Superior rooms (with a kitchen). Prices in the north, of course, are very pleasing. Everything is 2 times cheaper than in the south at the resorts. Enjoy!
Where is the temple
The White Temple is located about 13 kilometers from the city of Chiang Rai, south towards Chiang Mai. Near the main highway that connects Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
