Chiang Rai White Temple

Posted by Northerner on September 9th, 2011 filed in Attractions

Visitors travelling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by road will see crowds of people turning left off Highway 1 around 10kms from their destination. A few hundred metres down Route 1208 Wat Rong Khun (usually referred to as the White Temple) is the Northern region’s most amazing temple.

The spires of the temple’s main prayer hall (ubosot) stand like beacons above the surrounding landscape. Once visitors have parked up or alighted from tour buses, a walk across an arched bridge leads to a stairway for the ubosot. This building is unusual in Thailand as it is a brilliant white. The colour is meant to represent the Lord Buddha’s purity.

The gold-hued paintings contained within the ubosot show the path that leads from temptation to nirvana. Sculptures of creatures hanging from the roof embody earth, water, wind and fire. The art gallery on the opposite side of the shaded compound from the ubosot houses unique Buddhist paintings as well as ones with more contemporary themes.

The construction of Wat Rong Khun began in 1997 and has largely been inspired and designed by leading Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Although the ubosot and gallery are complete, work on other buildings here is ongoing. Shops across from the temple sell unique mementos and tasty snacks such as the famed Chiang Rai sausage.