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First, get yourself from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Changes are constantly being made to the buildings and the surrounding gardens and as I mentioned the artist does not expect to complete it until 2070. The original. In my opinion going with a guide added more value to our visit, because we could ask questions and understood the meaning behind every detail or statue. Going through aprivate tour will help a lot withgettingtickets prepared in advance and the local guide will lead you through aless-crowded route. Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, is a Buddhist temple with a difference. I arrived at Wat Rong Khun Chiang Rai at 10 am and I was surprised to see that there were already crowds of people on the temple grounds. The outstretched hands in a lake of damned souls reaching upward represent worldly desires such as greed, lust, alcohol, smoking, and other temptations. The project is an act of faith by the internationally acclaimed artist who has invested large amounts of his own money to create the temple. If you arrive without the proper clothing, dont worry youll find vendors outside the temples ready to supply you with scarves and other clothes to help cover up. I didnt know what to expect, I have already seen a couple of Buddhist temples, but none was this outstanding and different. Chaing Rai's White, Black, and Blue Temples in Thailand Look Like Art Travel insurance is highly recommended if youre traveling to Asia and scootering. However, it was later confirmed the building was still structurally sound, and Chalermchai recommended with his artwork. DONT VISIT KOH KRADAN without this guide! But what makes it so special? How to Get to the White Temple from Chiang Rai: The Buddhist temple is located about 12 miles (19 km) from Chiang Rai. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. The Thai Army has dug deep trenches along the Thai/Myanmar border to prevent drug smuggling. We stopped by the temple in the afternoon, at which point it was very crowded with tourists, making it difficult to capture good pictures. Most tours come early in the morning, so unless you are the first ones there, it is insanely crowded. The White Temple is the creation of Thai artist, Chalermchai Khositpipat who was born in 1951 in the village of Rong Khun in Chiang Rai province. He is a local artist who decided to rebuild the Wat Rong Khun, which was one of Thailands original temples that got into a very bad state at the end of 20th century. I spent over an hour walking through this gallery taking in all the artworks. The city of Chiang Rai is the capital city of the province of Chiang Rai which is one of Thailands seventy-six provinces. Either side of the gate is a large statue representing "Ketu"and "Rahu". After a lovely stay at Four Seasons Chiang Mai, it was time to head to our next destination, Fours Seasons Tented Camp in the golden triangle. Posted In: ASIA, THAILAND Tags: ASIA, Thailand, Vanessa Rivers, Wat Rong Khun, White Temple, Your email address will not be published. Vam even told us about a flower festival and offered to drop us off there at the end! In a nation of temples, Thailand's Wat Rong Khun stands out. In my opinion if you, Top things to do and see in Northern Thailand, 19 things you need to know before traveling to Thailand, Visit Thailand: Top 4 must-see attractions. From interesting details about the artist that designed this place, to the general organization of the complex and the meaning behind every detail designed in the temple. Understand the destinations by practicing the local Travel to northernmost Thailand to visit the unique Buddhist temple of Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple. You will see sculptures of modern-day heroes and villains dotted around the premises: Darth Vader, the Terminator, Batman,and even Angry Birds. Located in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand, Wat Rong Khun (also known to tourists as the White Temple) is an unconventional combination of Buddhist temple and art exhibit. A visit to the White Temple can also be combined with a hike to the stunning, 70-meter-tall Khun Kon waterfall in the national park. Go beyond the sightseeing. As opposed to many temples in Thailand, which date back centuries, the White Temple was built relatively recently. As I already mentioned, there is a meaning in choosing white instead of gold, but the symbolism doesnt stop here. Korea Trip, Japan-Thailand Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong. A Buddhist shrine in a cave protected by macaques next to dark passages lined with creepy paintings. If you purchase something using one of our links we may receive a commission. If you pay attention to the details carved into the hands you will spot several sins like promiscuity, greed, and desire. Even the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was one of Kositpipats clients! Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. A smaller number of the population in Chiang Rai are of Chinese descent, mainly descendants of the soldiers who settled in the region. Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat looked to. Thus, the temple and its grounds are surprisingly contemporary, focusing on fictional elements of our materialistic world: the predator struggling to free itself from the ground, aliens, and elaborate murals depicting Neo from The Matrix, Superman, and an angry bird flying towards the World Trade Center Towers. Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple, is one of over 33,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand. pace. If you want to get to the White Temple from Chiang Rai but don't fancy taking a bus, you can rent a scooter for the day, or hire a tuk-tuk for a few hours. mobile app. The construction of the current complex only began around the end of the 20 th century, after the original temple was completely demolished. The White Temple is set in a compound of beautiful structures even the golden building housing the restrooms is intricately decorated! WHITE TEMPLE IN CHIANG RAI - Visitor's Guide | Jonny Melon Taking photographs when inside the main building is forbidden,so please abide by that rule and any others that may be in place when visiting. A wishing well is located in the temple area along with many other pagodas and artistic structures. The Black House (Baan Dam) in Chiang Rai, Thailand, How to Travel From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by Bus and Car, The 7 Best Places to Visit in Northern Thailand, The Top 10 Things to Do in Chiang Rai, Thailand, The 10 Best Day Trips From Chiang Mai, Thailand, Thailand Temple Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts, How to Visit the Must-See Temples in Angkor, Cambodia, Bangkok's Grand Palace: The Complete Guide, Sticky Rice and Sand Healing: I Visited Thailand to Experience Its Reopening, The 12 Best Things to Do in Rayong, Thailand, Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Experience the true Northern Thai culture. This spring my friend and I spent 10 glorious days in Thailand, and I fell in love with everything about their culture. For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melons Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community. The following are some of the main features of Wat Rong Khun. Disclaimer, 22 Most Impressive Walled Cities in the World, 23 Best Things to do in Nuremberg, Germany. I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. The laziest option for getting to the White Temple is to join a sightseeing tour (available from most guesthouses and hotels) that includes the White Temple, Black House, and other sights. culture and interacting with local people. I remember that at some point my husband took his phone out of his pants and immediately a guy came and warned us that he would erase any photo we took and escort us outside. Join 2 million+ readers and get travel tips, event invites, trip discounts, giveaways and more! Chalermchai Kositpipat, a local artist, used his own money to build the temple and says the entire project will not be completed until 2070. Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . It is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, clear waters, and great, Koh Libong is a sleepy Thai island that remained on my to-do list for many years until I finally got around to visiting. There are many pop culture references within the White Temple and they illustrate impure representations of an imperfect world, where even the heroes are capable of sinning. The overall design and composition of the White Temple is not yet finished, as there are 9 buildings expected in total. This place is the highest, Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail Thank you, Albee. Apr 2023, Peter Bongiovanni, In 2014 the temple was damaged by a major earthquake that caused widespread damage across a lot of northern Thailand. a fantastic day trip to the White Temple from Chiang Mai. 15 kilometers South West of Chiang Rai town Wat Rong Khun, better known as "the White Temple" is one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand. Koh Mak is a beautiful little undeveloped island mid-way between the already popular Koh Chang and the growing in popularity Kod Kood. Visiting Wat Rong Khun - 11 Tips for The White Temple in Thailand We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link. Conveniently located just a stones throw away from the Sunday market, the popular Stay In Hostel is the perfect base for your Chiang Rai adventures. This statue of Buddha has a distinctive hairstyle meant to represent an unfathomably long period of meditation. The White Temple is a little over six miles (around 13 kilometers) south of town at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 1208. White Temple in Chiang Rai - Tours and Activities | Expedia The temple is the personal project of a skilled Thai artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat, who has dedicated himself to its creation since 1997. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Debbie Woods. Stay to the left side and drive carefully! The Twin Pagodas, also called Two Ch, Coffee talk The city of Chiang Rai is near the borders of Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma). White Temple is one of the Southeast Asia bucket list things to do in Chiang Rai and one of the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand! Highly recommended. Let me show you how to travel Asia better, further, and easier than you can imagine. I have vanlifed the west coast for 2+ years, lived and journeyed to over 65 countries across 5 continents (with a special love for Asia). Check out a review below: The perfect tour to see everything in Chiang Rai in one day! The White Temple can be quite busy at times so its best to plan your visit ahead of time if you want to avoid long lines or crowds.Since November-February is considered the high season, March through June can make for an ideal time to visit, as temperatures tend to be milder but still warm enough for sightseeing. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. Hailing from Rong Khun village, Khositpipat is widely regarded as one of Thailand's greatest artists. The interior of the temples is decorated with intricate paintings from floor to ceiling. 98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+, Heather Stern Wilensky, I feel like this is an investment in manifesting ones beliefs and views regarding religion and culture. (Expert Advice), How to Plan a 3-Week Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Couples/Family Tour, How to Plan a 3-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary, Morocco You can book a ticket to Chiang Rai and request the driver to stop at the White Temple along the way. It was designed by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and completed in 1997. Click the button below to view all articles related to Thailand! The cheapest option is to take a public bus from the central bus station. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WHITE TEMPLE CHIANG RAI OPENING HOURS & ENTRANCE FEES. Another easy option for reaching the White Temple is to take a southbound public bus from the bus station in town. When we stay tiny, we mean it. It does close for lunch from 12p.m.to 2p.m. Though this is actually for a pretty good reason. Mythical Buddhist gods, Rahu is the worldly protector and Ketu is otherwise known as death. The main building, known as Ubosot Hall, contains images of Buddha as well as statues that represent various aspects of Buddhism such as enlightenment and reincarnation. There is so much in the fine detail that you could stand inside looking at the paintings for over half an hour, or more. Despite its modern construction, Wat Rong Khun still follows traditional Buddhist principles, symbolizing purity through its white color and representing heaven on earth through its ornate design.