It goes to chiang rai terminal 2 off the highway which is 8 km north of wat rong khun. You may have seen pictures of the glittering white facade before but heres what you probably dont know about the white temple. Heres 15 facts about wat rong khun that you will find intriguing, facts that will enhance your knowledge before you visit this amazing temple. A visit to wat rong khun the white temple in chiang rain, northern of thailand. It is owned by chalermchai kositpipat, who designed, constructed, and opened it to visitors in 1997. Wat rong khun, known outside of thailand simply as the white temple, is a strangely beautiful place. May 02, 2011 nowadays, wat rong khun is still being constructed. The return distance between bangkok to wat rong khun is 778 km. Its outside of town so i hired a driver through my guesthouse.
Oct, 2011 this temple is the work of well known artist ajarn chalermchai kositpipat who has been working on this project for 12 years. But with its majestic, otherworldly exterior, wat rong khun is unlike any other site of worship. Wat rong khun, commonly known as the white temple, is an art exhibition in the style of a buddhist temple located in chiang rai. The wat rong khun is a buddhist temple located outside the city of chiang rai in thailand. Built by the famous thai buddhist painterturnedarchitecht and millionaire chalermchai kositpipat, the temple is completely funded by kositpipats own money in order to bring his vision to life. Wat rong khun makes the statement that it is a transbuddhist temple capable of transcending preconceived notions of a buddhist temple allowing a new and fresh experience to take over ones sensibilities. The temple is currently under construction, and it can actually be considered a workinprogress. Its creator himself announces that he will only be completed 60 to 90 years after his death.
Restoration works on the temple started, but had to be halted due to a lack of funds. Wat rong khun is the single largest confessional ever built for inside all our sins are exposed before our eyes and washed away in the golden halo of the buddhas supreme image. Dec 29, 2015 the wat rong khun was designed by chalermchai kositpipat, a famous thai visual artist. Book your tickets online for wat rong khun, chiang rai. May, 2015 heres 15 facts about wat rong khun that you will find intriguing, facts that will enhance your knowledge before you visit this amazing temple. It is the most visited monument in chiang rai province. Indeed, the artist might have been taken to heavenly heights as the wat rong khun temple in chaing rai can take anyone into an out of this world experience. The unconventional temple was designed by chalermchai kositpipat and opened in the 1990s. Wat rong khun is a product of great devotion and inspiration towards the sacred teachings of buddhism. It has some spectacular national parks and views but the most unusual attraction is wat rong khun or the white temple. Fortunately, a local artist in chiang rai decided to rebuild the temple with his own time and money.
But with all these thoughts and wonders swimming in my mind the entrance gets closer and closer and a feeling that there may be the. The crest of the bridge features the 16 causes of sorrow, and the center of the bridge represents mt. 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. Photo by whitecat sg a hybrid of all that is fervently religious and much of what is modern scifi, the white temple of chiang rai, in thailand s northern region, is one of the most spectacular and eccentric sites in the entire country, if not the entire planet. Marvel at wat rong khun, the white temple in chiang rai trip101. Photo by riccardo romano take a stroll through the temple in order to reach the temple, one must cross an intricately carved bridge which crosses a moat, in front of which youll see countless sculptures of outreaching arms. You can also try a different route while coming back by adding multiple destinations. Indeed, the artist might have been taken to heavenly heights as the wat rong khun temple in chaing rai can take anyone into an out of this world experience the temple attracts numerous local and international tourists. Wat rong khun, located just south of chiang rai thailand. Jan 14, 2014 wat rong khun, known outside of thailand simply as the white temple, is a strangely beautiful place. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. This bizarrelooking white temple is owned by chiang raiborn visual artist chalermchai kositpipat, who.
Wat rong khun often forms part of a day tour taking in a number of other chiang rai attractions including baan dam black house. The artist, chalermchai kositpipat, opened it to visitors in 1997. General info as mentioned, wat rong khun is about 10km outside the city, so its easily accessible by hiring a motorcycle or local transport such as a tuktuk or taxi. Wat rong khun is free for thai citizens while the foreign visitors have to buy a ticket costing 50 baht 1. The temple attracts numerous local and international tourists. The white color signifies the purity of the buddha, while the glass symbolizes the buddhas wisdom and the dhamma, the buddhist teachings. Jan 06, 2020 wat rong khun is free for thai citizens while the foreign visitors have to buy a ticket costing 50 baht 1. Jackson, neo from the matrix, freddy kruger, and a t800 series terminator. Enjoy the flexibility of a private driverguide throughout the day as you visit wat sang kaew photiyarn, wat rong khun, wat huai pla kung, and more, with a. By the end of the 20th century the temple was in need of serious renovation. But wat rong khun or the white temple in chiang rai, i promise, is worth it. The white temple, wat rong khun, chiang rai, thailand.
The original white temple, also known as wat rong khun, was in a decrepit state as the 20 th century neared its end. Its a striking structure that, from a distance, seems to be made of glittering porcelain. A closer look reveals the appearance is due to a combination of whitewash and clearmirrored chips. Wat rong khun, or the white temple as its more commonly known, is easily the most popular attraction in chiang rai, thailand. Wat rong khun white temple, chiang rai ticket price. Wat rong khun is different from any other temple in thailand, as its ubosot pali. The architectural wonders of thailands white temple youtube.
Wat rong khun, or the white temple, in chiang rai, thailand. Muang, chiang rai, 57000, thailand wat rong khun contact number. Wat rong khun tambon pa o don chai, thailand atlas obscura. Its a striking structure that, from a distance, seems. Wat rong khuns construction began in 1997 by noted thai painter turned architect chalermchai kositpipat. Check map from bangkok to wat rong khun for clear directions. A tour of wat rong khun, the oddest temple in thailand. A short, curious history of the white temple of chiang rai. Along with it, estimate travel time from bangkok to wat rong khun to calculate the time you will spend travelling.
If travelling from chiang rai, you can go by songthaew the covered pickup trucks you find throughout much of thailand or take the public bus from platforms 7 and 8 of the old bus station. The 10 best hotels near wat rong khun the white temple. Visiting wat rong khun aka the white temple is a unique experience, thats for sure. Neo from the matrix, freddy krueger, and a t800 series terminator. Any discussion of wat rong khun should probably begin with the fact that its not really just a wat temple, despite the monks. Thailands white temple, wat rong khun thailand for children. Cheapest quickest way to wat rong khun white temple. Wat rong khun, known outside of thailand simply as the white temple, is a. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. The wat rong khun is a lifetime project of artist chalermchai kositpipat, blending traditional buddhist art with contemporary themes. The bridge to wat rong khun likely holds the most symbolism of the whole exterior.
Wat rong khun chiang rai 2020 all you need to know. Also commonly referred to as the white temple, wat rong khun is a top place to visit on any trip to northern thailand. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 4. Wat rong khun actually isnt so old, built in 1997 by an independent thai artist, chalermchai kositpipat, who has refused all donations from wealthy sources, government sources, any sources. The temple that once stood on the site was in a state of dilapidation, with no funds towards its refurbishment. Visit wat rong khun on your trip to chiang rai or thailand.
Its hard to believe but the temple is very modern, construction began in. The wat rong khun was designed by chalermchai kositpipat, a. Take in the striking white angles and contours of wat rong khun, a buddhist temple cum art exhibit. Learn about the history of this outstanding religious building and also explore. Wat rong khun chiang rais white splendour that silver. Wat rong khun aka the white temple, chiang rai the. The primary message, wat rong khun is sending is that you need to escape desire, greed, and temptation in order to reach nirvana. Located in ban mai, pak ping ing jai has a shared lounge, garden, terrace, and free wifi throughout the property. We recommend booking wat rong khun tours ahead of time to secure your spot. A private car driver from chiang mai would cost much much more, maybe a few thousand baht. Its construction began in 1997, and the completion is not expected to happen for another 5060 years.
The completely white temple, hence the nickname, stands out brilliantly against the chiang rai sky. Chalermchai kositpipat, a artist born in chiang rai, decided to completely rebuild the temple and fund the project with his own money. Towards the end of the 20 th century, the original wat rong khun was in a very poor state of preservation. Jan 17, 2015 the bridge to wat rong khun likely holds the most symbolism of the whole exterior. Wat rong khun the white temple in thailand brain berries. Wat rong khun in chiang rai from the ubosot, proceed on to the museum displaying chalermchais artworks, the souvenir shop and visit the inhouse studio where artifacts are assembled and decorated with mirrors before being hoisted up and fixed onto the buildings bare concrete structure.
Incredible white temple of chiang rai wat rong khun. Located km from chiang rai, wat rong khun is a very recent temple. Meru the center of all the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes in buddhist. Wat rong khun, is a modern art exhibit in the form of a temple, built in 1998 by thai artist chalermchai kositpipat near chiang rai, northern thailand. Wat rong khun, chiang rai ticket price timings address. If you want to make your own way to the white temple to give you more time and freedom, you can arrange to hire a tuktuk, songthaew or taxi to take you. Wat rong khun is the work of thai artist chalermchai kositpipat and signifies a new vision of buddhist architecture and worship. In this lesson, explore the wat rong khun in chiang rai, thailand. It is known as the white temple for the prevalence of white on the buildings and art pieces. The temple is almost entirely white with small pieces of. Every day, hundreds of visitors line up to see the main building of this religious complex built just km south of the city center of chiang rai. Wat rong khun unconventional architectural work is inspired by the expiatori temple from the sagrada familia in barcelona, spain.
A relatively new temple, with construction having started in the late 1990s, the temple is, as yet, unfinished. Visiting the white temple, chiang rai thailand josie wanders. When completed, the construction project of wat rong khun will consist of nine buildings. This temple is the work of well known artist ajarn chalermchai kositpipat who has been working on this project for 12 years. The incredible white temple of chiang rai looks like a place taken straight out of a fairytale, but its real and is widely considered one of the most stunningly beautiful and impressive buddhist temples in the world the white temple wat rong khun, better known as the white temple is one of the most recognizable temples in thailand. It is a beautiful structure on the edge of the northern city of chiang rai and is made in white with mirrored tiles to reflect the sun. I, like many others before me, came to chiang rai just to experience this buddhist temple but this northern thailand town has so much more to offer, see my post on things to do in chiang rai here and yes, it was really worth the trip. Chiang rai city in northern thailand is definitely most popular among tourists for its white temple wat rong khun.
Nov 20, 2017 wat rong khun, commonly known as the white temple, is an art exhibition in the style of a buddhist temple located in chiang rai. Wat rong khun chiang rai 2020 all you need to know before. One of thailands most magnificent temples, wat rong khun, is located in the northern province of chiang rai. Wat rong khun is today one of chiang rais biggest tourist draws, and i had a chance to visit it as part of a chiang rai bicycle tour click here to read about the tour. Dec 27, 2016 one of thailands most magnificent temples, wat rong khun, is located in the northern province of chiang rai. In a nation of temples, thailands wat rong khun stands out. Visit the magnificent temples of chiang rai on a fullday, privatetour from chiang mai to a series of iconic buddhist sites. Wat rong khun, perhaps better known to foreigners as the white temple, is an unconventional, contemporary buddhist temple in chiang rai. Wat rong khun chiang rais white splendour that silver lining.
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