- Name: Wat Rong Khun, “the white temple”
- Date: Complete reconstruction from the end of the 20th century
- Location: On Route 1 (Phahonyothin Road) 15 kilometers southwest of Chiang Rai city
A unique temple
Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple distinguished by its white color and the use of pieces of glass in the plaster, sparkling in the sun. The white color represents the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the Dhamma, the Buddhist teachings.
Wat Rong Khun was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous Thai visual artist. To date, the temple is not completed. Ultimately, it will include nine buildings, including an ubosot, a room where Buddhist relics will be kept, a meditation room, the monks' living quarters and an art gallery.
May 5, 2014 , a strong earthquake hit Chiang Rai. Although the White Temple was badly damaged, Chalermchai Kositpipat decided to restore and expand Wat Rong Khun.
The history of Wat Rong Khun
Towards the end of the 20th century, the original Wat Rong Khun was in a very poor state of preservation. Restoration work on the temple began, but had to be halted due to lack of funds.
Chalermchai Kositpipat, an artist born in Chiang Rai, decided to completely rebuild the temple and finance the project with his own funds. The artist built the temple as a center for learning and meditation and for people to benefit from Buddhist teachings. Today, the work continues.
Temple structures and their symbolism
Every detail of the temple and structures, such as the "cycle of rebirth" bridge and the "gate of heaven", carries meaning and encourages the visitor to reflect on the Buddhist teachings that show the way to escape from temptations, desires and greed of the world and focus instead on the mind.
Location
Wat Rong Khun is located just off Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road), approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Chiang Rai city.
How to get to Wat Rong Khun
The most comfortable way to get there is by private air-conditioned taxi. The journey from the city takes around 20 minutes and the fare is between 250 and 300 baht. Most hotels in Chiang Rai can book one.
It is quite easy to get to the White Temple using public transportation. Buses depart from the old bus station, near the Night Bazaar, in the center of Chiang Rai city. The journey takes about 30 minutes and the price is 20 baht for one way.
You can also rent a blue songthaew at the old bus station for about 300 baht.
Opening hours
The temple is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The White Temple is widely visited by foreign tourists and Thais, the latter mainly during weekends and Thai national holidays. The site can get busy.
A gallery on the grounds sells artwork by the temple's designer, Chalermchai Kositpipat. The gallery closes at 5:30 p.m.
Please dress respectfully, that is, no revealing clothing. Take off your shoes before entering a temple. Taking photos is not permitted in the main building.
Souvenirs, coffee and snacks are available on site.
Entry fees
The entry fee at the ticket office is (Thai baht):
- Adult: 50 Baht
- Child: 50 Baht
Donations for the construction and maintenance of the temple are welcome.
