Wat Rong Khun

Wat Rong Khun

Wat Rong Khun, also known as The White Temple, is probably one of the most photographed buildings in Thailand.  If you are in Chiang Rai, the White Temple may be one of the things that brought you here.  Chiang Mai is one of the most visited cities in Thailand and many visitors to Chiang Mai will join a tour that includes a visit to the White Temple.

Wat Rong Khun was a little known temple in various states of disrepair due to a lack of funding to properly restore it.  It was at the end of the 20th century when Chiang Rai artist Chalermchai Kositipat decided to totally fund the project himself.  His vision was to make it a place of learning and meditation allowing people to benefit from Buddhist teachings.

Each detail of the temple has a meaning and encourages visitors to reflect of Buddhist teaching to focus on the mind rather than worldly temptations and greed and desires.

Your journey starts by crossing “the cycle of rebirth” bridge.  At the foot of the bridge are hundreds of hands reaching up in desire, representing suffering and hell.  As you cross the bridge, this is the cycle of rebirth and overcoming worldly things.  From there you find two creatures from Buddhist mythology.  These half human half bird creatures are called Kinnaree.

After the bridge you arrive at the “Gate to Heaven” which is guarded by two creatures representing Death and Rah, who decide man’s fate.  Next are several Buddha images in meditation.

You now find yourself at the ubosot.  It is similar to other temples in Northern Thailand with its three-tiered roof and Naga serpents, but it’s the color that gives the temple its name and makes it “different”.  The ubosot is all white with pieces of reflective glass in the plaster.

Inside the ubosot are many murals just like you’ll find in other temples, yet NOT like other temples!  Instead of murals depicting something about The Buddha, these murals depict good and evil using contemporary figures from comic books, movies, and superheroes and villains.  Finally, on the back wall is a golden mural of The Buddha plus various Buddha images i front of it.

After leaving the ubosot, you will see an ornately decorated golden building.  Where the white ubosot represents the mind, this gold building represents worldly desires and wealth.  If you go into the gold building, you may both surprised and “relieved” – these are the temples restrooms!