Wat Rong Khun attracts tourists from all over the world. Everyone who comes to Thailand strives to visit this temple, which has become the national pride of this country.

The White Temple is a non-traditional Buddhist religious building located in the province of Chiang Rai, 13 km from the city of the same name, which carefully preserves Thai traditions passed down from generation to generation and respects the cultural heritage of this country. Despite its youth, the White Temple embodies traditional Thai art and the national culture of the local population.

The construction of the temple began in 1997, but it is still too early to talk about the completion of construction work. The famous Thai artist Khalermhai Kositpipat, the creator of the temple complex, believes that the construction of the temple will continue for about 90 years. He is well aware that he will not have to see the final result of his work, but he firmly believes in the continuation of his work by his students.

Khalermkhai Kositpipat nurtured the idea of ​​creating the White Temple for a long time and for 20 years saved up money to make his dream come true by selling the paintings he created. It is noteworthy that the artist does not accept sponsorship, motivating his refusal with his own creative freedom. He strives to embody in the construction of the temple complex precisely his plans and ideas that were not imposed on anyone.

The brother of Khalermkhai Kositpipat, who is responsible for engineering work, as well as a whole army of their common like-minded people, helps to create a grandiose structure of the temple. Obsessed with the idea of ​​​​creating a unique temple, the artist is sure that Wat Rong Khun will become a real brainchild for him, which will perpetuate his name for a long time.

Description

The white temple, covered with sparkling mirror mosaics, symbolizes Paradise, as well as the purity, wisdom and purity of the Buddha. Building Wat Rong Khun, Halermhai first of all sought to create a center for meditation and training for people involved in the practice of Dharma, as well as to give everyone the opportunity to learn the wisdom of the Buddha.

However, the unusual white color of the walls sparkling with mirror mosaics and the amazing bewitching beauty of the White Temple attracted not only admirers of the Buddha's teachings to it. Tourists from many countries reached out to the amazing temple.

Visiting Rules

A visit to Wat Rong Khun is associated with some conventions, the observance of which is mandatory for everyone without exception. Such conditions are legs covered with long clothes and a ban on photo and video equipment. So in short dresses or shorts it is better not to try to enter the temple. This does not mean that lovers of short skirts will be punished here.

Just at the entrance you will be offered clothes that cover your bare legs. The inscriptions at the entrance to the building of this temple warn visitors that it is allowed to enter here not only with covered legs, but also without cameras and video cameras, since photography and video filming inside the temple is strictly prohibited.

The path to the temple

Having dressed according to the requirements, visitors can not immediately get inside the temple. First of all, it is necessary to overcome the gates of Hell, as well as the path of doubt and suffering. Along this path, on both sides, statues of the human hands of sinners, suffering from thirst and begging for deliverance from hellish torments, stretch to walking tourists.

The huge mouth of this demon is depicted in the form of a large circle, which personifies the insignificance of both the human mind and sinners suffering in hell. The bridge over the pond, located behind the mouth of Rahu, symbolizes the transition from one world of an endless cycle of rebirths to another, in which the Abode of the Buddha is located.

On the way to the temple, visitors come across a wide variety of figures and sculptures. The roof of the temple building is decorated with figures of animals embodying the elements of nature, and on the territory of the temple there are sculptural images of mythical creatures and dragons.

A large number of various fountains and small ponds with fish of amazing beauty swimming in them cause genuine admiration among tourists. Sculptures of fairy princesses by the pond, statues of Buddha frozen in the lotus position, sculptures of animals and mythical heroes conceal a deep meaning, which not everyone can solve.

For the manufacture of sculptures, as well as for the temple walls, alabaster was used, after which the walls and sculptures were painted with white paint. The territory of the complex, which includes the White Temple itself, an art gallery and a public toilet sparkling with gold, occupies about three hectares of area. In addition to the existing structures, it is planned to erect 9 more buildings, including a monastery and a museum, a pavilion and a pagoda, a chapel and a preaching hall, as well as rest rooms.

The interior of the White Temple

Of course, most visitors are interested in the interior of the White Temple.

The inner walls of the temple amaze visitors with golden hues. In the building of the temple there is an image of a golden flame, in the center of which there is an altar of Buddha. On each of the inner walls there are images of animals symbolizing the main elements of the surrounding world: fire, water, wind and earth. The elephant standing on the earth is the personification of the earth element, the swan wings represent the wind, the lion's mane symbolizes the flame of fire, and the naga symbolizes the water element.

Two statues of Buddha and his huge image are an important part of the interior decoration of the temple. One of the walls is painted by the creator of the temple with scenes of an endless struggle between evil and good forces. However, instead of mythical heroes personifying good and evil, the artist depicted modern heroes in the interpretation of Buddhism.

Here you can see the demon Maru, who makes it difficult for the Buddha to find ways for enlightenment, as well as Batman, Superman, Neo and Star Wars heroes fighting monsters and robots that are out of human control. The side walls depict the events of September 11, 2004, when a suicide bomber plane crashed into the towers of the twin buildings. The other wall depicts the catastrophic destruction of our planet.

It should be noted that visiting the temple is completely free. Each of the tourists, if desired, can contribute any amount for the construction of this unique structure. By buying paintings by Halermhai Kositpipat, one can also contribute to the construction of this modern Buddhist complex.

However, the paintings are quite expensive, and not every visitor to the temple can afford such purchases. Therefore, many tourists limit themselves to souvenirs and postcards, which also makes it possible to participate in the replenishment of resources to continue the construction of this original temple complex.

Wat Rong Khun is not a temple at all in the standard sense of the word. There are no monks here. They don't come here to pray. It would be more correct to call Rong Khun an art object that assimilated the multifaceted nature of the modern world on a Buddhist basis. Despite the fact that the temple is not canonical, its symbolism for a Westerner is more understandable than the meaning of traditional temples in Thailand.

If you are interested in modern art, then this temple (it is called "white") should be visited. You will be able to see an eclectic fusion of Buddhism, traditional Thai architecture, pop art and science fiction.

Temple history

Thailand has a huge number of traditional Buddhist temples. All of them form the core of Thai culture and are included in the excursion program of any tourist. Old temples have their undoubted advantages: they are all places of prayer, in which the walls and the earth breathe history. But the environment is changing. Just like the people who inhabit the earth. It is difficult for modern people to understand the meaning of Buddhism by visiting old temples. They need to show Buddhist ideas more visually.

Chalermchai Kositpipat, a millionaire Thai artist, argued something like this. He proposed to reconstruct Wat Rong Khun Temple, which was in a deplorable state near his hometown of Chiang Rai. Permission has been granted. The artist was given the territory of a dilapidated temple complex. In 1997, at his own expense, he began to implement a grandiose architectural and artistic project.

For two decades, a group of artists led by Kositpipat has been working on a unique architectural complex. During this time, it was visited by more than 5 million people. Considering that the white temple in Thailand is located almost at the Burmese border, not in the very tourist area of ​​the country, far from Chiang Rai, then this figure is more than telling.

The work is planned to continue until 2070. It costs a lot of money. The Thai government does not provide funds. Symbolic money is earned through the sale of souvenirs with the image of the temple and its ideological inspirer, as well as in the form of donations from visitors and individuals.

Here is what Chalermchai Kositpipat himself says: “Money and things are worthless. They are not mine. They only allow me to act in accordance with my beliefs.”

Symbolism of the temple

Every detail of the temple complex has its own meaning and allows visitors to see the Buddhist teachings. Everything here is designed to turn a person’s attention to ordinary surrounding things: to take a different look at worldly temptations depicted in bizarre figures, to focus on consciousness, and not on material things.

Symbolism of color

In the external design are mainly used:

• high-strength white alabaster (gypsum);
• small pieces of mirrors.

Mirror fragments are superimposed on an alabaster base. Thanks to this, the temple complex shimmers in the sun's rays so much that sometimes you want to look away. With the help of this technique, the artist not only showed the purity of the Buddha's consciousness and the superiority of the spiritual world over the material one. The light shining in the mirrors symbolizes the ability of any person to reflect the kindness of other people.

Although white color prevails in the design of the temple grounds, it is not the only color used. There are many gilded, red, green and other colors outside the temple. They symbolize worldly existence, human vices. Here, disgusting-looking sculptures, hanging heads, skeletons and demons holding cigarette packs, dummies of alcohol bottles are waiting.

The concept of the complex is such that first visitors see art objects related to worldly life. And only after that, guests can enter the territory of the white temple. Thus, the artist makes you feel the difference between the consciousness of an ordinary person and the enlightenment of the Buddha.

Pond

Like many other temples in Thailand, Rong Khun is surrounded by a pond in which several dozen large fish live. It is customary to feed them: for a fee, you can buy special food. It is impressive and liked by both adults and children.

Wat Rong Khun itself includes several installation objects that visitors pass on their way to the temple. This:

• hell pit
• Gateway to heaven

hell pit

Hundreds of human hands sticking out of the pit under their feet on both sides of the road symbolize desires and passions. Overcoming them, according to the Buddhist concept, means the path to happiness. The twisted faces of the demons follow the incoming gaze and check how ready everyone is for purification.

Several hands emerging from the pit are holding iron pots into which passers-by throw coins. They say that this is an effective way to say goodbye to your sins and start a new life.

Bridge over the wheel of rebirth

The concentric circle under the bridge and two large stylized horns sticking out of the ground symbolize the transition from a cycle of uninterrupted rebirths to a free state without suffering.

According to the third truth of Buddhism, this is achieved only by giving up desires.

Gateway to heaven

Having given up all their desires, visitors find themselves in front of the gates to paradise. They are guarded by statues: on the left - Rahu (those in whose power is the fate of man) and on the right - Death (those in whose power is the life of a person).

The bridge ends with a temple, in front of which visitors see sculptures of a meditating Buddha. This creates an additional mood before entering the temple.

Buddha's abode

Externally, the temple is made in strict accordance with Buddhist architectural canons. The work on the inside has not been completed. It seems that Chalermchai Kositpipat is waiting for some miracle or sign. In the meantime, the walls inside are painted in such a way that even the local residents of Thailand are surprised.

Let's not reveal the secrets of the temple. But let's say that, although the images are far from canonical, they fit perfectly into the system of the Buddhist worldview, which is limitless and capable of conjugating any manifestations of a diverse reality.

golden house

In contrast to the white abode of the Buddha, the golden house is the center of worldly life. Here are located:

• small gallery;
• hall for sermons and prayers;
• "golden public toilet".

Again, on a symbolic level, the golden house is intended to contrast with the white temple, emphasizing the difference between worldly vanity and enlightened true awareness.

The golden color is designed to draw people's attention to how much attention they pay to money and worldly things, forgetting about the most important thing.

A park

After visiting the monastery, guests can walk in the park, relax on benches in the shade of trees, and study sculptures. There is a small cafe with snacks and drinks, a souvenir shop.

Working hours

The temple complex is open for visiting from 8.00 to 18.00. The gallery in the golden house closes at 17.30. Free admission. It gets crowded on weekends and holidays: Thais love to come here on excursions.

Despite the fact that Rong Khun is an inactive temple, it is still a religious site. When visiting, you must follow the dress code and avoid too open parts of the body.

How to get there

Wat Rong Khun is located along Phahonyothin road 15 kilometers southwest of Chiang Rai. Can be reached by the following transport:

• by taxi for 300 baht ($8) -20 minutes;
• by bus for 20 baht ($0.5) - 30 minutes;
• by songteo bus for 30 baht ($0.8) - 30 minutes.

Buses and minibuses leave from the bus station near the night market in the center of Chiang Rai.

Wat Rong Khun is a Buddhist temple 13 kilometers from the city of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Due to its unusual appearance, Wat Rong Khun is often referred to as the "White Temple". The construction of the temple in 1997 was started at his own expense by the famous Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat (b. 1955), who decided to refuse the help of the state and sponsors so that no one could infringe on the freedom of his creativity. A total of nine buildings are planned to be built in the temple complex. Construction is still ongoing, but Wat Rong Khun is already attracting a large number of tourists.

As conceived by the artist, the white color of the temple symbolizes the purity of the Buddha. The windows through which light enters the temple symbolize the light of Buddha's wisdom, illuminating the world.

The temple itself is a symbol of nirvana, which can only be achieved through suffering. Therefore, under the bridge leading to the temple, there are sculptures of unfortunate sufferers - Narakas, who are punished for their sins in the Buddhist purgatory - Naraka. Naraki raise their hands, sometimes with begging bowls, in the hope of help and salvation. The circle with fangs is the mouth of the demon Rahu, who, according to myths, swallowed the Sun and the Moon.

On the territory of the temple complex there are other sculptural images of other mythological characters of Buddhism and, of course, images of the Buddha.

On the roof of the temple you can see four animals, symbolizing the four elements: the Elephant is a symbol of the earth, the swan is the wind, the mythological naga snakes are water and the lion is fire.

Inside the temple there are paintings on the theme of the struggle between good and evil, which in Buddhism is personified by the demon Mara, who at one time tried to lead the Buddha himself astray from the path of enlightenment. The mural presents the September 11 tragedy in a peculiar way, you can also see such modern heroes as Neo from The Matrix or Spider-Man.

There are quite a few interesting sights in Thailand, and one of these places is the White Temple or Wat Rong Khun. It is even difficult to call this temple a temple; rather, it is a work of art that enchants with its beauty. It seems that you are in a fairy tale and there is a snow castle in front of you. The temple is located a few kilometers from Chiang Rai, so if you are in these places, be sure to visit the White Temple in Thailand.

The construction of the temple began relatively recently in 1997 and continues to this day. The idea of ​​the White Temple, as well as the temple itself, belong to the talented artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The magical building is his dream come true. The funds for the construction of the temple complex, the artist collected for 20 years. He does not want anyone to dictate his own rules for the construction of the temple, so he does not take money from sponsors. Even the chief engineer is his brother. Chalermchayu Kositpipat is confident that thanks to the White Temple, his memory will live on for many years to come.

Temple grounds

The territory of the temple is well-groomed and well-equipped. There is a beautiful pond in which fish swim, as well as many fountains and sculptures of mythological creatures. Among all this beauty, it's nice to sit on a bench and take great photos.

There are currently three buildings on the temple grounds: the White Temple, an art gallery, and a golden structure that looks like a small palace, which is actually a public toilet. I would never have thought that an ordinary toilet could be so beautiful.

The owner plans to build 6 more buildings. The construction of some of them has already begun.

Near the temple complex there is a souvenir shop where you can buy magnets, postcards and more. There is also a cafe where you can have a bite to eat.

The main building is the White Temple, which symbolizes Paradise, and to get into it you need to go through the mundane world full of temptations, and then through Hell with the outstretched hands of sinners and the fangs of Rahu (the mythical snake demon). And only then you get to the bridge, which symbolizes the road to enlightenment, and leads to the temple.

The hands of sinners
bridge of enlightenment

What's inside the temple?

At the entrance to the White Temple there are signs that say that it is forbidden to take pictures inside the building. But despite this, there are quite a lot of photos on the Internet.

Getting into the temple, you understand that it is half empty: only a statue of a monk sitting alone and painted walls around. All drawings are created by the owner of the temple and symbolize the constant war between good and evil. Here you can see various characters fighting for good: Superman, Batman, Avatar, Terminator, heroes from the Matrix and many others. Also on the walls are twin towers, rockets, weapons, spaceships. Over time, new paintings appear and many of them reflect our modern life.

How to get there?

The easiest way to get to the White Temple is from Chiang Rai, for this you need to drive in the direction of Chiang Mai for about 12 km. There will be a sign on the road next to the White Temple, as well as many buses and cars, so it is difficult to miss this place. Even from Chiang Rai to the White Temple can be reached by minibus from the old bus station.

See the exact location of the White Temple on the map.

Schedule

The temple is open during daylight hours seven days a week, admission is free.

As in any other Buddhist temple, dress appropriately: knees and shoulders must be covered. If necessary, at the entrance you will be given pants, a skirt or a scarf.

The White Temple in Thailand impresses with its unusual beauty and many tourists come here from different countries. This place is definitely included in.

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 - a completely new temple, the construction of which began in 1997 and continues to this day. The temple looks like an ice house (it would have been to the taste of the Snow Queen from a fairy tale 🙂 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 the 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 that the best time to visit the White Temple is at dawn or sunset, when the white color is beautifully reflected in 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 🙂

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 don’t feel the energy here, you don’t 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 can’t take pictures inside, so I’ll describe it in words: inside the temple is almost empty. Only in the center is the mummy of a monk (we still didn’t 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 🙂

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? 😎

No, this is not a Buddha palace, this is a toilet 😎 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 🙂