On May 5th 2014 a strong earthquake hit Chiang Rai. I hope some of this trivia about Thailand was interesting. Luckily, the local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat decided to renovate the temple and re-design it as well. Souvenirs, coffee and snacks are available on the grounds. Normally, the inside of a Buddhist temple is very decorated with a Buddha statue inside. The white color signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the Buddha’s wisdom and the Dhamma, the Buddhist teachings. My name is Alex, and I’m a Professional Travel Blogger and Photographer from Sweden. The Wat Rong Khun is located just off Highway 1 (Phahonyothin road) about 15 kilometers South West of Chiang Rai town. 0105560068071, White Temple + Black House + Hot Spring + Blue Temple, Spend a day with the Akha hill tribe people, Live with the Akha and spend the night in a clay house in the mountains. Wat Rong Khun, more commonly known as the White Temple, is located in Chiang Rai and built by local artist, Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat. The original Wat Rong Khun, however, was in such a sorry state, that one of Thailand’s greatest artists – Chalermchai Kositpipat decided to purchase and renovate the holy building with his own funds. Wat Rong Khun (Thai: วัดร่องขุ่น), also known as the White Temple is a Buddhist temple in the Chiang Rai Province in Northern Thailand. Wat Rong Khun’s construction began in … Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, also known as the Temple of a Million Bottles, is a Buddhist temple in Khun Han district of Sisaket province, Thailand. Alternatively, charter a blue songthaew at the old bus station at about 300 Baht. As there was no budget, Chalermchai Kositpipat took it upon himself to take over the architecture. Among the most well known temples are Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple and Wat Pho, the temple of the reclining Buddha as well as Wat Arun, the temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River that runs through Bangkok. Amazing Places Of Worship: Wat Rong Khun, Thailand An architectural wonder of Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, Wat Rong Khun is found in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Often referred by foreigners as the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun is a private temple that is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat. The White Temple is designed and funded by the same man. A white ornate Buddhist temple that is quite different compared to other Thai Buddhist temples. Copyright 2012 - 2020 Swedish Nomad - Travel Blog | All Rights Reserved, Wat Rong Khun – How to get there + Info about the White Temple, most popular tourist attractions in Chiang Rai, Thai Food – 25 Traditional Dishes to Eat in Thailand, Currency in Thailand – Info about Thai Baht, ATMs and exchange rates, 12 Best Beaches in Phuket – The 2019 Guide, 1999: The White Temple opens for the public, 2014: An earthquake in the Mae Long made some damage to the White Temple, 6 May: Chalermchai Kositpipat says that he will demolish it for safety reasons and not rebuild it, 7 May: An engineering expert takes a closer look at the temple and confirms that the structure holding up the temple was unharmed, 7 May: Chalermchai Kositpipat decides that he will restore the damage in two years and bring back the original state of Wat Rong Khun, 8 May: It once again opens up to the public. Named after the Hindu god Aruna, the temple’s central … Wat Arun in Bangkok is a famous landmark. Hey! Chalermchai Kositpipat, a … The transfer time from Chiang Mai to the White Temple is approximately 3 hours. The gallery closes at 5.30 pm. The White Temple, Wat Rong Khun is not only stunning in the moonlight with its white walls and glass mirrors, but it is humorously known as being home to Thailand's most beautiful bathroom. The white color signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the Buddha’s wisdom and the Dhamma, the Buddhist teachings. The bridge of “the cycle of rebirth” – This bridge leads to the main building, the Ubosot. We were dropped off at the road outside the White Temple. Normally, the inside of a Buddhist temple is very decorated with a Buddha … This temple is privately owned and its construction began only twenty years ago. Inside Wat Rong Khun. Today the works are ongoing. Chalermchai Kositpipat is a visual artist from Thailand, famous for beautiful Buddhist imagery in his art. Also known as the Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple built by King Narai in the 17th century. Please dress respectfully, which means no revealing clothes. Please take off your shoes before entering a temple building. Wat Rong Khun: Super interesting - See 7,760 traveler reviews, 12,349 candid photos, and great deals for Chiang Rai, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. 10 AM. Most Thai temples are colored and heavily decorated, especially on the inside. Collection of the bottles began in 1984; it took two years to build the main temple. By the end of the 1900’s the old Wat Rong Khun was in a bad shape and need of restoration. The Traveling Gingerbread is a place for us to share budget travel tips for people with full time jobs, fun facts, itineraries, and where to find the best craft beer. Wat Rong Khun makes the statement that it is a trans-Buddhist temple capable of transcending preconceived notions of a Buddhist temple allowing a new and fresh experience to take over ones sensibilities. White Temple + Black House + Hot Spring + Blue TempleFull Day Join Tour from Chiang Mai฿ 1,400 per person Instant confirmation. You pay when you arrive, and the driver will notify you when you’re at the temple. Wat Rong Khun is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chiang Rai and Northern Thailand. Wat Rong Khun- The White Temple of Thailand Wat Rong Khun. But this is not the case with the White Temple. Chalermchai Kositpipat, a artist born in Chiang Rai, decided to completely rebuild the temple and fund the project with his own money. Visit the White Temple – Wat Rong Khun. It is located in the Thai city of Chiang Rai. Posted in Thailand Tagged Chiang Rai White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, Wat Rong Khun White Temple, white temple Chiang Rai, White Temple Thailand. Chiang Mai is a 13th-century ancient city of the Lanna … Nearly everything about … Towards the end of the 20th century, the original Wat Rong Khun was in a very poor state of preservation. It’s free to look at the White Temple from a distance. Cover shoulders and wear long shorts or long pants when you enter. Wat Rong Khun Opening hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The temple outside the town of Chiang Rai attracts a large number of visitors, both Thai and foreign, making it one of Chiang Rai’s most visited attractions. I’m currently on a mission to show you the amazing places and diversity that our planet has to offer! A local artist, and also now the owner of Wat Rong Khun. The Wat Rong Khun is a Buddhist temple located at the southern end of the city of Chiang Rai in northwestern Thailand. A gallery on the grounds sells art works of the temple’s designer, Chalermchai Kositpipat. The gold is a symbol of how people today rather focus on money and worldly desires. Click here to: The structures of the white temple and their symbolism. The artist has spent almost $1.2million (of his own money) so far on the temple. Little information is known about Wat Rong Khun before it was put in the hands of Chalermchai Khositpipat, considered by many to be Thailand’s greatest modern artist. It’s quite empty inside, except the famous murals on the walls. Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple, is one of over 33,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand. 8 Things You Didn’t Know About the White Temple in Chiang Rai. Buses leave from the old bus station near the night bazaar in the center of Chiang Rai town. He took the aging, dilapidated ruins of a temple 10 kilometers south of Chiang Rai and turned it into what is today one of the city’s most popular attractions. Though it may have involved divine inspiration, it was in fact designed by a man. Most tourists who come here join a guided tour from Chiang Rai. The color white symbolizes the purity of the Buddha. It’s called the Temple of Dawn because it’s incredibly beautiful at dawn when the first rays of light shine down on the temple to create an esoteric gleam. The beautiful Buddhist and Hindu temple is an all-white and highly ornate structure rich with mosaic mirrors and symbolism. He designed and constructed the modern version of the temple. Chiang Rai is a city located in the mountains, so the surrounding atmosphere is fresh, and the average temperature is 24.6oC. Unfortunately, there were no funds available. Bon Voyage Thailand. Photo: Prachaya Roekdeethaweesab / Shutterstock.com. Author: The Traveling Gingerbread. The white color is the contrary since it symbolizes the idea to make merit and the mind, instead of material possession. The White Temple has to be at the top of the list of things to do in Chiang Rai with kids. The artist built the temple to be a center of learning and meditation and for people to gain benefit from the Buddhist teachings. While this temple opened its doors to the public in 1997, Wat Rong Khun existed long before the 1990s. The White Temple is a fairy tale of Thailand. The temple is made of over 1.5 million empty Heineken bottles and Chang beer bottles. And that was it! Wat Rong Khun, also known as Thailand’s White Temple, is a Buddhist temple with a very unique style.It was built on the site of an old dilapidated temple by the Thai artist Chalermchai Kosipipat. Learn more interesting things about Thailand . The most comfortable way to get there is by private air conditioned taxi. When exploring Buddhist temples, people are often amazed by the abundance of color found in the architecture and decoration of such places. White Temple + Black House½ Day Private Tour฿ 1,350 per person Instant confirmation. Wat Rong Khun is popularised as the White Temple among foreigners and it is located in Northern Thailand... History Associated With Wat Rong Khun. Thai artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat rebuilt it … The temple opens daily from 8 am until 6 pm.The white temple is much visited by both foreign tourists and Thai people, the latter mainly on weekends and Thai National Holidays. 95% of people start their Wat Rong Khun White Temple visit around 10 AM. Chalermchai Kositpipat designed and reconstructed the previous temple who was in big need of restoration. As a reader of this blog, you can get $40 in discount on your first booking. Here, the white temple symbolizes the purity, and the glass is a symbol for Buddha’s wisdom and the Dhamma. When Chalermchai first conceived the idea of building the wat, he laid out a great grand plan for its design and construction but, like Gaudi’s work, it will never be completed. For more information about meditation and a list of retreats and temples in Thailand that teach meditation, read meditation retreats in Thailand. It turned out the temple is not really new. He has funded the project himself and has so far spent more than 40 million Thai Baht. About The White Temple The White Temple, known as Wat Rong Khun, is a privately owned Buddhist temple and art exhibit in Chiang Rai. Ubosot – The main white building has several traditional features from Thai architecture, such as the Naga serpents and the three-tiered roof. Chiang Mai is Historically & Culturally Rich. Number of Times Wat Rong Khun White Temple is Added in Itineraries. 14/02288DBD Department of Business Development registration no. Gate of Heaven – Once you cross the bridge you will enter the “Gate of Heaven” where you can see two guards – Death and Rahu. There are plenty of Airbnb accommodations in Chiang Rai where you can base yourself. It’s better to go there early on weekdays, to avoid the crowds. Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple that stands out through the white color and the use of pieces of glass in the plaster, sparkling in the sun. Both tourists and especially locals come here during weekends, which makes it quite busy. Hill TribesThe hill tribes of North Thailand, Experience Akha way of lifeSpend a day with the Akha hill tribe people, Akha HomestayLive with the Akha and spend the night in a clay house in the mountains, Black House40 Houses filled with art works, Golden TriangleFormer center of opium trade, Wat Huay Pla KangBig Buddha of Chiang Rai, © Renown Group Co.,Ltd 2010 - 2021 All rights reserved, TAT Tourism Authority of Thailand license no. The old adage “You can’t judge a book by its cover” apparently also applies to a temple. Wat Rong Khun is not expected to be completed until 2070. Just ask for songthaew to Wat Rong Khun, and let the driver know. He started the Wat Rong Khun project in 1997. Admission charged at the ticket booth is (Thai Baht): Donations for the construction and maintenance of the temple are welcome. Shoes should also be taken off before you enter the White Temple. Believe it or not, this is a real place – Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Thailand that looks like it was placed on earth by a god. But with its majestic, otherworldly exterior, Wat … The easiest way is probably by taxi or tuk-tuk, but a cheaper and more adventurous way is to go with the local songthaew. However, it quickly be… In a way, Wat Rong Khun is similar to Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcolona. There are 33,000 traditional temples in Thailand. The ride from Chiang Rai is just about 20 minutes, and shouldn’t cost more than 300 baht with a tuk-tuk. Chalermchai Kositpipat, a local artist, used his own money to build the temple and says the entire project will not be completed until 2070. It is said that the original temple was in dire need of repair near the end of the 20 th century. The White Temple has a three-tiered roof. This area still keeps all… It is fairly easy to get to the white temple using public transport. Chalermchai Kositpipat, the owner of the temple is considering the temple as an offering to the Lord Buddha. Wat Rong Khun Wat Rong Khun (istock/Rmnunes) In the midafternoon sun, Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, can appear downright … Before the White Temple there was another temple on the site which was falling apart. Wat Rong Khun, better known as “the White Temple” is one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand. The original version of the temple was in very poor condition, when a famous Thai visual artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat, decided to buy the temple and turn it into a masterpiece of modern art. In front of the bridge are hundreds of outreaching hands that symbolize unrestrained desire. Quite peculiar since the outside of the temple has such details. Taking photos is not allowed in the main building. Leave a comment below or send me an email! The bus ticket is just 20 baht. Most Chiang Rai hotels will be able to book one. The Sci-Fi Buddhist Temple That Is Wat Rong Khun. Buses depart to Wat Rong Khun from Chiang Rai in the center, near the night bazaar. The trip takes around 30 minutes, fare is 20 Baht one way. But it's the only one that features a mural depicting a plane … The combination of both traditional Buddhist themes and modern influences, including murals of Superman, Mickey Mouse, Micheal Jackson, and Kung Fu Panda. But for most, this doesn't include murals of Keanu Reeves. The Wat Rong Khun was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous Thai visual artist. You can also go here with a guided group tour from Chiang Mai, but it’s far more convenient to go from Chiang Rai. Do you have more questions about Wat Rong Khun in Northern Thailand? This beautiful white temple sits outside of Chiang Rai and is one of the most famous temples in Thailand. Source: WordPress. The Wat Rong Khun breaks with the traditional concepts, and the first characteristic that stands out is the almost absolute whiteness of the complex. There are several ways to go here from Chiang Rai. The ride from town takes about 20 minutes, the fare is between 250 and 300 Baht. Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple is one of the most original temples in Thailand. Restoration works on the temple started, but had to be halted due to a lack of funds. Thai nationals can visit the White temple for free. Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple) There are more than 30,000 temples in Thailand, but not many can claim to be as unique as the White Temple in Chiang Rai. 0.22% of people who visit Chiang Rai include Wat Rong Khun White Temple in their plan. 4 Times. Most popular time to visit Wat Rong Khun White Temple. The artist welcomes donations, but donations should not exceed $280. The grounds can get busy. It is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed, constructed, and opened it to visitors in 1997. You can also go by public transport. The message of the images inside the temple can be somewhat confusing, but it’s meant to show that people are wicked. Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple that stands out through the white color and the use of pieces of glass in the plaster, sparkling in the sun. Eventually there will be nine buildings including an ubosot, a hall to enshrine Buddhist relics, a meditation hall, the monks living quarters and an art gallery. The very famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) is … If you’ve seen other temples in Thailand, or in other Buddhist countries, you can see a big difference here. The dress code at Wat Rong Khun is not as strict as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, but respectable clothing is expected just as with any other Buddhist temple. Donations are accepted, but the maximum amount is 10.000 THB. When completed, The White Temple will have nine structures. 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