Wat Rong Khun: The White Temple of Thailand

For day 4, we booked a trip to Chiang Rai, the adjacent province. After dining the day before, and while looking for a spa, we decided to go book a trip out of town~. Actually, we wanted to go to this another temple and at the same time go to the Golden Triangle, but there was no enough time to do so, so we had to choose just one. We thought we're just going to see the Golden Triangle this time. 

The travel agency provided the vehicle. We were with four other travelers plus the tour guide and the driver, but the vehicle is still quite big for all of us so we were all seated comfortably, which was good because it was almost 6 hours travel. On our way, we stopped by an area where there is a hot spring.



Vendors are boiling eggs and quail eggs on this portion of hot spring, but in another area, the upper part, it has been opened for people who want to soak their feet in the water.


The water is continuously flowing from the source down to the end of the 'spa' canal, so it's not gross. We just wanted to see how hot the water is. And anyway, we were on a tour group, so we couldn't really spend so much time in these stops. From here, we continued to travel to our real destination, the Wat Rong Khun or White Temple, one of Thailand's more popular destinations. Entrance to the White Temple is 50 baht.


There were many people queuing to get inside the temple. And you can't really stay inside, you just have to go in to see what's inside and continue walking you way out. 

 


Wat Rong Khun was built by Thai artist Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat. He wanted to build the most beautiful temple in the world and to show the glory of modern Thai Buddhist arts.

"I want to create arts in my own style and to develop Thai Buddhist arts to be accepted internationally. I want people of all nations to come and admire my works, like when they want to visit Taj Mahal or the Ankor Wat," says Ajarn Chalermchai in an interview (from a leaflet handed over to us by our tour guide).

The temple is not yet finished and is continuously being renovated as the artist wants to perfect his work. "I need to devote all my time to this and also to educate and pass along my vision to at least two consecutive classes of pupils. Maybe in 60 to 90 years after my death will the project be completed," says the artist.

 Ajarn Chalermchai wants to create art with utmost freedom, thus he does not accept monetary donations from the government, politicians or moneyed private individuals. He had to look for other funding himself.



"People lack moral standards. That is why I portray evil people as the demon with mouth opened encircled the entrance of the temple. When people walk out, they will feel that they leave the demon behind that is they rid themselves from evil spirits and going towards "lokutharadhamma" (the highest level of dhamma, where people will not be reborn)," explains the artist.

 



The use of small mirrors throughout the building is a symbol of wisdom (Dhama) of Buddha that shines throughout the universe.


As to the use of white, the artist wants to build a wat that is different from the others which are usually golden. He believes that gold means lust for evil deeds, and that Buddha represents purity.

"I want to build a heavenly garden (representing happiness) for humans to stroll in. I want all visitors of whatever religion to have  a feeling of peace, happiness and at the same time get to understand the meaning of Buddhism that can be seen all over the temple.







The golden toilet at Wat Rong Khun will make you feel like a queen sitting on your own throne. It's very clean.

But again, because we were with a group, we only had an hour to go around the temple, which is not enough. We were even the last ones to go back to our vehicle because I went back to buy souvenir. From here, we went on a nearby Chinese restaurant for lunch.


Wat Rong Khun is located at:
Pa O Don Chai Sub-District, Mueang District, Chaing Rai Province 57000 Thailand
Tel: 0-5367-3579 / 0-5367-3967

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