Just south of Chiang Rai, off Highway 1, there is one of the most amazing and stunning temples I have ever seen in Thailand. Called officially the “Chapel of Wat Rong Khun” it has become to be known simply as “The White Temple”. This is another one of those places that hasn’t been discovered by the Lonely Planet people yet. (One of these days, I will start a website called “Not in the Lonely Planet”. Though I am sure that many of these places we have been featuring the last year or so will sooner or later end up in future editions.)
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This is a modern form of architecture which you don’t often see in temple grounds. It was designed and built by Thailand’s premier artist Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. The attention to detail is remarkable and you do need to spend some time here studying the beautiful artwork. To reach the temple you have to cross a bridge over a pit of hell. Down below there are sculptures of people who are presumably trying to escape from hell. Inside the temple is a beautiful coloured mural of the Buddha.
The weather wasn’t too good the day we visited this temple. You really need a blue sky to show off the fine details of the sculptures. However, it was still worth visiting. Next door there is a small art gallery showcasing the work of Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. You can also buy copies of his paintings here. They are all very beautiful. Chapel of Wat Rong Khun is 13 kms south of Chiang Rai. We stopped here on our way back down south. Alternatively you can use Chiang Rai as a base while you visit this temple and other places.
Stunning photographs richard.
That Wat will be a must see on one of my future trips to Thailand.
Many if not most temples in Thailand seem to have a “sameness” about them in their style (although it doesn’t distract from their beauty and style) and its therefore wonderful to see innovative temple architecture like that you have described in your Blog.
Thanks again.
Bill
It looks like its covered in snow. It’s really something amazing and unique from all the other temples.
Who ever has been the artist for this Buddhist Temple may not have understood Budddha’s teaching at all. He has done it purely based on his own MIND understanding of belief’s of Hell & Heaven. In Buddha’s teaching there was, there is and there will be nothing called as Heaven & Hell.
I was really lucky when I visted th temple that Khosit was there and talked to me and even answered my questions. He said that he put the hands and the concept of hell in the temple in order to teach people that they are responsible for their own enlightenment. Too often people ask for other to save them, yet that help must come from within. He also said he limited that monetary amount of the donations because he was tired of people thinking they can buy their enlightenment.
Therefore, I don’t think he meant this as a literal Christian style hell.
We visited it on a sunny day, all the silver was sparkling in the sun like diamonds. It was really beautiful, though still under construction. The path you have to walk there symbolizes the way to enligtment, though the hands looked like a scene from Dante’s hell. Realy worth a visit!
the man who is doing this is also doing the clock tower in town. but its been covered in scaffolding for the last 2 years. that will look grand as it will all be gold colour. as for the white temple, yes, its beautiful, as white as snow.
I recently visited the temple with this very strange background due to the smoke pollution in northern Thailand.
Positively phantasmatic. Even irrealistic.
Should become a must (but it would be better to avoid pollution !!).
amazingly beautiful. I’ve never thought that a temple could be so pretty. the weather was really good when we went and so it was blinking… very very impressed
i spent 2 months in thailand .. mostly in the town of pai. The white temple was a favorite of mine. I was lucky i was there on a beautiful day weather wize and i have some great shots (also a photographer) i’d be happy to share just email me if your intertested in seeing them
I visited this temple last year, it as was definitely worth the visit. The designer was there taking pictures with people and answering questions.
This was the most amazing temple. I fell in love with the surrealist image on the back wall. i.e. the wall of the entry door. There were no copies in the shop… Does anyone have a connection to that surrealist masterpiece so that I can show my students.
JP
Yes I have seen it in FEb
Very nice temple.
The paintings on the wall at the entrance are also intriguing with some drawings with characters the matrix (yes the movie), the effect of oil shortage and some futuristic drawings.
“Who ever has been the artist for this Buddhist Temple may not have understood Budddha’s teaching at all. He has done it purely based on his own MIND understanding of belief’s of Hell & Heaven. In Buddha’s teaching there was, there is and there will be nothing called as Heaven & Hell.”
If you go to this website you can see who the artist is and exactly why they have designed it this way!!!…..
http://www.tourismchiangrai.com/e-ctmc/index.php?option=rongkhun
We were there a couple of months ago and although I had been almost “templed out” I found that it was fantastic. So worth seeing…just so different. A must see if you are in the vicinity.
think it is a really great that u would wrote that because if u r trying to do ur homework and u cant find anything information so to find something to use is really helpful.
To me its a mysterious temple, and very beautiful. It’s so well-known, that travelers can’t miss.
You forgot to mention the paintings of the Twin Towers being destroyed, Neo from the Matrix, atomic explosions, and Star wars characters painted inside the temple. These paintings were meant to depict the recent violence the world has seen in reality and fiction.
Yes, we visited this stunning temple in 2007, and apart from the amazing dunny, the orgasmically transfixing mural inside the entrance (photographs forbidden) has haunted me since. We tried to buy a copy – not available. It is a world masterpiece, with its modern yet intergenerational theme.
PLEASE… anyone out there, can a get a copy somewhere??
Madman
Visited White Temple last week 15/8 as I saw it advertised in the Sunday Sun in May the weather was not that good and as you say you need the sun out to see the reflection to do it justice. I stil think it was the highlight of our tour, I was suprised it was not included in the tours promoted there in Chiang Mai it was only because we requested they stop there that we did.
A PRIVATE GUIDE TOOK US TO THE WHITE TEMPLE OCT. 2008. HE TOLD US IT WAS DESIGNED BY A FEMALE ARCHITECT.
IT WAS TOTALLY UNIQUE, AWE INSPIRING, AND ETHEREAL. WE SAW IT ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNLIT DAY. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.
IT’S A MUST SEE!!
i just visited the white temple in 30.08.2010. i will never forget it. mysterious temple, and very beautiful.