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Thailand had always been at the top of my travel bucket list, so when we finally visited as a family, I felt deeply inspired by the country’s beauty and culture. Some of our favorite memories from this trip are the experiences we had in Northern Thailand. After spending four unforgettable days in Chiang Mai, we traveled to Chiang Rai and stayed there overnight before flying south to Phuket. While many visitors choose to spend all of their time in and around Chiang Mai, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to see the stunning Wat Rong Khun, better known among tourists as the White Temple in Thailand. Located on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, this temple is a mind-boggling masterpiece of Buddhist art; one that’s defined by incredible detail, bizarre sculptures, hidden meanings, and surreal beauty!
Where to Stay
While in Chiang Mai, we stayed at Chada Mantra Hotel, a nice place in a great location with a fantastic restaurant in the lobby. If you don’t mind sleeping on a firm bed, you will love it here! In Chiang Rai, we booked a night at The Garage Guesthouse. It wasn’t in a central location, but the staff was lovely and the rooms were comfortable and clean. Not to mention, the price was great! To see other highly rated options from Booking.com in Chiang Mai, click HERE, and for Chiang Rai, go HERE. We have filtered out the lower-rated listings for you! Booking.com is our favorite website for finding great places to stay all over the world! They offers amazing flexibility on payments and cancellations!Â
Our Tour of the White Temple in Thailand
Our trip to the White Temple in Thailand was a part of a custom tour we booked with Travel Hub Chiang Mai. I must say they did a fantastic job planning the itinerary for us and organizing an entire day of sightseeing with a certified TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) tour guide. By all means, give them a try if you are looking for a great tour from Chiang Mai! They have tons of options to great locations in the nearby area and further away.
An Early Start
On the morning of our trip, we got picked up from our hotel in Chiang Mai by a comfortable van with AC and plenty of space for all our luggage. Our tour guide, the lovely Ms. Kwan, greeted us bright and early and explained the plan for the day. It took us a little less than four hours to get to the White Temple near Chiang Rai, but this included a short delay due to road construction and a stop at Mae Kha Jan (Mae Kachan) Hot Springs.
The Mastermind Behind The White Temple in Thailand
Before diving right into the experience of visiting the White Temple in Thailand, I thought I’d share a little background information that may be interesting to know. So, here is the story in a nutshell: The mastermind behind this elaborate work of art is Chiang Rai local artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat, who is also the owner of the White Temple. He was eager to restore the original temple, which was starting to fall apart. Chalermchai designed and brought his vision to life by using his personal finances, and occasionally accepting only small donations. He knew his ideas would be considered a bit eccentric by some, and didn’t want to be influenced by big donors. Instead he chose to create his own art with his own money.
Our first glimpse of the White Temple near Chiang Rai
The White Temple first opened to the public in 1997 and quickly became a favorite tourist attraction. People from all over the world began swarming the area in order to see this extraordinary creation. It’s appearance seems almost out of a fairy tale, decorated with elaborate sculptures made of plaster and mirrored pieces of glass.
Earthquake
In 2014, the White Temple was damaged by an earthquake, but Chalermchai brought it back to its original beauty within a couple of years. Eventually, he proclaimed that this project would be his life’s work. Today, Chalermchai continues to add more details and embellishments to this already intricate masterpiece. The White Temple is not expected to be completed until the year 2070, which means that the artist most likely will not see his finished work.
Tip: Be sure to bring a dark pair of sunglasses when visiting the White Temple in Thailand. On a clear day, the sunlight reflects off of the mirrored glass pieces, making it difficult to look at without shades.
Tip: Always dress appropriately when visiting Buddhist temples. Be sure to cover your knees and shoulders, which means mini skirts, shorts, and tank tops are out. Certain temples may not allow solid black pieces of clothing either, like The Grand Palace in Bangkok. Also, at The Grand Palace, covering the shoulders with a sarong is not acceptable. Visitors must wear an actual shirt with sleeves.
First Impressions
Funky road cone in front of the White Temple
When we first got a glimpse of the White Temple, all we could do is just stand in one place and stare in disbelief. The ornate sparkling white exterior looked shockingly surreal, unlike anything we had ever seen. Ms. Kwan, our guide, broke the spell by gently reminding us that we could actually go inside, then led us towards the entrance.
Mystery Superhero
On the way there, we saw several bizarre road cones near the curb and a statue of a superhero sitting on a bench. It was a character I didn’t recognize. In all honesty, my knowledge of fictional superheroes is so pathetic, that this didn’t surprise me one bit. All I can tell you is, it wasn’t Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, or Superman. Hubby wasn’t sure who the superhero was either, so he just decided this must be a nonexistent character, created by the artist of the temple. Hmmm! I don’t know! Feel free to drop me a comment if you know who this is! 🙂
Here I am with the mystery superhero…Could it be the Thai Iron Man?
A large golden sculpture with small white Buddha statues near the entrance
Whisky Sculpture
Not far from the superhero, we discovered several more curious works of art. One was an ornate sculpture, which included a bottle of whisky along with several demon heads. I interpreted this to represent either the horrific effects of alcohol addiction, or alcohol being a dark and diabolical temptation that humans often can’t resist.
The Whisky Sculpture
Severed Heads and Monsters
The other bizarre compositions we encountered were several shrunken heads hanging from a tree and a horrific-looking monster jutting out of the ground. The heads displayed some odd features, while the monster looked like Predator from the famous sci-fi movie.
Severed heads hanging from a tree near the White Temple
Predator sculpture near the entrance
As to what all these creepy (but really kind of cool) artworks symbolize, here is what our guide, Ms. Kwan, explained: They are metaphors for humans’ obsessions with nonexistent superheroes, deadly substances, and wicked fantasies, all of which lead to our own demise.
Entering the Temple Grounds
An ornate temple bell at the entrance of the temple
When we finally made it to the entrance, we paid a small fee of 50 Thai baht per person (less than $2 US) required for foreign visitors and walked through the gates into the temple grounds.
Once inside, we made our way closer to the ubosot (main building), desperately trying to find a good spot for a photo. This wouldn’t have been such an ordeal if the place weren’t overflowing with excited tourists and selfie-takers. Despite this “teeny” setback, we somehow managed to get a few clear shots. Even with a mostly cloudy sky, the White Temple looked absolutely stunning as it sparkled in the daylight and gently reflected in the man-made lake right in front of it. Swimming in the water were Japanese Koi Fish, and curiously, all of them were white. We learned that this was an intentional choice made by the artist, as he wanted the purity of white to be a prominent theme throughout the temple grounds.
The mandatory family photo in front of the White Temple
The Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth
After taking in the stunning view for a while longer, we headed towards the bridge leading across a small pond and into the ubosot (the main building). Ms. Kwan informed us that we were about to walk over The Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth. She then pointed towards a circular area right at the start of the bridge where hundreds of plaster hands were reaching out of the ground. Among the hands, there were skulls, creepy faces and other entangled objects. Ms. Kwan explained that this area symbolizes Hell and humans’ unrestrained greed and desires; as we cross over the bridge and forego these worldly human traits, we move away from pain and suffering and get closer to eternal peace and happiness represented by the temple.
Walking closer to the temple and The Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth
Reaching hands in front of the White Temple
More twisted sculptures in front of the temple
Sculpture with an orb in front of the White Temple
In other words, the way to a genuinely fulfilling and admirable state of existence doesn’t go anywhere near the glitzy stores at the mall. If you want to reach Nirvana and leave the vicious cycle of death and rebirth behind, don’t succumb to all the materialistic and wicked temptations that exist in our world. Fair enough, definitely a good life lesson!
Here are Ms Kwan, our guide, and hubby
Strolling on the Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth
Dani dancing on the Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth at the White Temple
Family photo on the Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth…We just had to!
Inside the White Temple
Once we crossed the bridge and entered the temple, we found ourselves in a completely different and unexpected world. The contrast between the sparkly white exterior and the fiery orange hues of the interior was stark. Since pictures were not allowed inside the ubosot, I can’t share what we saw through photography, but I will try to describe it with words. Let me just start by saying that what we discovered was as fascinating as it was shocking. The walls were covered in detailed paintings that had plenty of hidden and not-so-hidden meanings. While some may find the messages behind the artwork politically charged and offensive, I thought it was quite captivating.
The ornate entrance of the White Temple in Thailand
Snippets of the Modern World
Right above and around the entrance, there was a large painting of an evil entity depicting the Devil. Layered on top of this image were a variety of smaller paintings showing spaceships, rockets, characters, famous people, and events from our recent history. We found dancing Michael Jackson, Hello Kitty, Minions, Kung Fu Panda, Freddy Krueger from the movie Nightmare on Elm Street, Neo from The Matrix, Harry Potter, Spider-Man, Superman to name a few. One of the most memorable, however, was a painting of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. One of twin towers could be seen engulfed in flames and partially destroyed, while an airplane was flying towards the other. Twisted around the burning tower was a black snake-like creature with human heads at one end and a gasoline pump at the other.
The Eyes of the Devil
Just as we were looking at this incredibly detailed yet chilling work of art, Ms. Kwan, our guide, directed our attention to the eyes of the Devil above the entrance. She pointed out that in each eye there was a subtle silhouette of a man and asked us to guess who they were. We threw a few names like Hitler and Mussolini, but we didn’t get the correct answer. Ms. Kwan then revealed the mystery: Inside the left eye of the Devil was the image of Osama bin Laden and inside the right one, former US President George W. Bush.
Images of Buddha
Right above the painting of the Devil and on the opposite wall across from it, there were images of calm, smiling, meditating Buddha. The message here was pretty clear, I thought: Only if we can rise above all the greed, corruption, conflict, and wickedness of the human race, we would achieve a genuinely happy and peaceful existence, known in Buddhism as Nirvana. Ms. Kwan seemed in agreement and rather pleased with my interpretation.
Keep in mind, there is a lot more to see on these walls, but I will leave some mystery. My hope is by now you are so intrigued that you are already planning your own journey to The White Temple in Thailand!
Exploring the Rest of the Temple Grounds
After spending a good amount of time looking at the fascinating art inside the temple, we exited through the back of the ubosot. In the garden behind the main building, we discovered a couple more white structures that looked like pagodas. These, however, did not have the same ornate exterior as the temple. I imagine Chalermchai Kositpipat has plans to work on them in the upcoming years.
Tip: While at the White Temple in Thailand, be sure to take your time as you walk through the grounds. Visitors are allowed to move in one direction only and can’t go back unless they purchase another ticket.
View of pagodas behind the temple
About to walk through an ornate white arch with Buddha behind the temple
The ubosot of the White Temple from the back
Another photo of the White Temple because you can never have enough! 🙂
Looking at the pagodas and the temple from the back
Other Points of Interest
We continued our walk through the temple grounds and happily discovered that there was more to see. Just as we were starting to feel a bit overheated, we came to a shady rock fountain at the back of the garden, which was decorated with small statues, including some of Buddha, and temple bells. Not surprisingly, there were a whole bunch of kids ringing those bells and splashing in the water. Our daughters, Angie and Dani, also joined in the fun and quickly regained their withering energy.
Getting to the rock fountain
We are a family of lions
Walking along the rock fountain
The temple bells decorating the fountain
An odd sculpture near the fountain…Could this be the artist’s own representation of himself?
From the fountain, we walked to a massive bell hanging from an ornate golden structure, then followed the path to an impressive golden temple. Our guide, Ms. Kwan, told us this was a Hindu Temple. Unfortunately, we were not able to go inside, but enjoyed taking plenty of photos from the outside. Our next short stop was near the temple crematorium, which was a small white building, decorated in the style of the main temple. There was also a decorated white gazebo with a golden wishing well inside, and pagoda-shaped “trees” where visitors can hang medallions with their names written on. The medallions can be purchased from the temple store for a very small sum.
Huge temple bell hanging from a golden structure
Golden Hindu Temple near the White Temple
Closeup of the golden Hindu Temple
View of the crematorium
Entrance to the crematorium
The crematorium once again
Gazebo with a golden wishing well inside
Pagoda-shaped tree where you can hang a medallion with your name
The Golden Building
At this point, we slowly started circling back towards the exit, and just as we were thinking our tour was nearly over, there was one last surprise. We came to a large golden building that was located on the side of the main temple. Imagine our astonishment when we learned this was, out of all things, the public bathroom. It turned out the artist had another hidden message for us.
The golden bathroom
According to Ms. Kwan, the golden bathroom represents the body, which is the connection to our worldly existence. It reminds us that what’s on the outside doesn’t always match the inside, and the things that have true value in life are not necessarily polished and shiny. In contrast, the white color of the temple symbolizes the healthy mind, the purity of Buddha, and all the sparkling pieces of mirrored glass represent Buddha’s teachings.
Temple Store and Thai Lunch
After spending some time pondering all these hidden meanings, we did take a short bathroom break. Even though none of us had to go, it felt like the experience would be incomplete if we didn’t actually make use of these elaborate facilities.
Inside the golden bathroom at the White Temple
Our next stop was the temple store, where we found art prints of many of Chalermchai Kositpipat’s masterworks. We recognized some of them since they depicted elements from the walls inside the White Temple. There were some really curious art prints as well, which provided plenty more food for thought. For instance, we saw one that showed George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden riding a missile together through space.
When we finally managed to leave this odd, yet fascinating place, it was time to get some lunch. Ms. Kwan recommended a place located across the street from the entrance to the temple. It turned out to be a wonderful little restaurant where all of us thoroughly enjoyed delicious Thai food, including one of my favorites, mango sticky rice.
Mango sticky rice, one of my favorites
Yes! The White Temple in Thailand is Worth It!
After lunch, we headed back to our van as it was time to continue with our sightseeing tour of Chiang Rai. Our next planned stop was none other than Wat Rong Suea Ten, also known as The Blue Temple, which was designed by a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat.
Before all of us climbed inside the van, however, we had to take a few seconds to look at the White Temple one last time. It appeared just as surreal as it did before, sparkling in the sun and reflecting in the water. This time, however, we saw it in a slightly different light. It was no longer just an elaborate piece of art, but also a place of wisdom that we actually understood…And if you are still wondering whether traveling to the White Temple in Thailand is worth it, I would respond with a resounding YES! Make the trip, you won’t regret it!
Here it is one last time!
Special Thanks
We would like to thank Travel Hub Chiang Mai for planning and organizing our trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. We had an absolutely amazing time and want to be sure to mention that while this was a sponsored activity, all opinions expressed in this article are our own. Please, refer to our Disclosure Policy for more information.
IMPORTANT
When traveling abroad, be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months AFTER your planned stay. There are many countries that follow this rule very strictly. If you show up to the airport with a passport that expires in less than 6 months, you will NOT be allowed to board your plane! Click HERE to learn more and to see the list of countries that require 6 months of remaining passport validity.
Resources to Help Plan Your Trip to Chiang Rai
- Tourism Thailand – The official website of Tourism Authority of Thailand; find information about popular destinations, experiences, and Thai culture
- Thailand Travel – Lonely Planet’s detailed guide to Thailand, which includes various destinations, activities, experiences, and more
- Website for services and restaurants featured in this article – Travel Hub Chiang Mai || Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & Bar || Kunda Cafe
Note:Â Unless otherwise indicated, the photos in this post were taken by Vessy and Cameron with a Nikon D5600 camera and iPhone X. Please send us an e-mail at vessy@feelgoodandtravel.com if you would like to use any of them. All images are subject to copyright laws.
Disclaimer
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we will receive a small commission if you purchase something through these links. There is absolutely NO additional cost to you! We are affiliates of Booking.com and sincerely believe this is one of the best websites for booking accommodations. Thank you so much for choosing to use our affiliate links! These small commissions help us continue to update and run this website. 🙂
These activities took place on August 1, 2019.
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31 comments
Love the White Temple architecture. What a cool place to visit. Dancing MJ & Kung Fu Panda? Lol! Great thorough write up and deets. The hands and bodies sculptures were interesting to say the least, but fascinating place
Thanks for stopping by, Hera! It’s fascinating indeed…And to think we almost didn’t take the trip because so many people were telling us just to stick around Chiang Mai because there isn’t much to see in Chiang Rai. There is actually quite a bit, especially if you like Buddhist temples. I, for one, loved it…but then again, I love anything and everything Thailand! 🙂
Thailand looks so beautiful! I can’t wait to get there someday! Your photos are amazing!
Thanks so much, Joanne! Thailand is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world! I hope you visit soon. If you are in the Chiang Mai area definitely check out Travel Hub Chiang Mai. They were awesome! 🙂
The White Temple in Thailand looks like an amazing spot to visit! Thank you for sharing!
It really is, Tricia! We were astounded! I had seen this White Temple in pictures so many times, but the real thing is beyond words and pictures! 🙂
It’s almost dizzying to look at all the intricate details of this White Temple in Thailand. My youngest would be totally freaked out by some of those monsters! They’re pretty creepy!
You know, Susan, the beauty and the brightness of the temple completely overpower all the evil demons around. I don’t know how the artist created it like this, but the White Temple truly gives off tons of positive energy. Not to mention the statues of Buddha throughout the grounds sit above all the chaos below, and when you look at them, you can’t help but feel calm, relaxed, and happy. It was a fascinating experience, especially after we understood the meanings behind all this dizzying art. It was our kids’ favorite temple by far. They still get excited when I show them a photo of it. 🙂
The White Temple looks beautiful…and massive. We are in Chiang Mai currently and we were in Chiang Rai for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We missed seeing this Wat but if we go back it’s definitely worth a visit after reading and seeing your post!
Awww! How nice! We LOVE Chiang Mai, and YESSS…I totally recommend you check this Wat out! The White Temple is unlike any other temple in Thailand! Fascinating stuff! You may need to have a guide to go in. I read on someone’s blog that a guide is required for foreign visitors. I don’t know if that’s still true. We did have a guide and entered with no problem, of course. They probably have guides there on location if you have to take a guided tour! 🙂
The White Temple in Thailand is truly incredible!! What wonderful photos you shared with us. I like Thai-ron man!!
Yaaaay! Thanks so much, Lee Anne! I LOVE Thai-ron Man! You totally nailed it! This is what I will call him from now on! 🙂
Your article was so detailed & awesome! Thailand is on our travel bucket list as well, but it’s almost like I don’t know where to start or where to go…so many interesting places! If we went, I’d definitely visit The White Temple; you sold me! Thank you!
Awww, I am soo happy to hear this, Tara! Indeed, Thailand has so much to offer in terms of beauty, culture, and food! 🙂 We traveled around the country for several weeks, and I loved it all. However, my most favorite places were Chiang Mai including the tour to Chiang Rai and Krabi down south. It’s such a beautiful country! You will be amazed! 🙂
Those are some amazingly beautiful pictures! What a neat looking place.
Thanks so much, Sheila! When we first saw The White Temple, we had a hard time believing our eyes! 🙂
WOW! This is amazing. I can’t get over the intricacy of this temple. It’s stunning. I love the lion photo – so cool. My whole family would love the mango sticky rice.
Thanks for stopping by, Leeanne! The White Temple in Thailand really is something else! We were stunned by the details, the story, and all the messages the artist conveyed so clearly through his art. Such a worthwhile experience!…And the mango sticky rice is one of the greatest things EVER! They cut the fresh delicious fruit right in front of us…It was out of this world! I loved it so much…Once in a while this would be my lunch or dinner…It is considered dessert, though! 😉
Love the photos! I’ve been to Thailand, but did not go to the White Temple – which clearly means I need to go back!!
Thanks so much, Cameron! I also need to go back to Thailand! There is so much amazing stuff to see and explore. The Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai area alone is endless…not to mention all the food…:)
Wow, it’s like stepping into a fairytale! Thanks for sharing your experience and beautiful photos of the White Temple in Thailand. The reaching hands would have done me in, but wow….
Thanks for checking it out, Amanda! 🙂 I knoooow! Those reaching hands are something else! 🙂
The White Temple is stunning! Some of the other things are a bit creepy. If I’m ever in Thailand, I will keep this place in mind!
Thanks, Lori! It’s definitely a fun and memorable experience! 🙂
These are stunning photos and love all the details you shared…it was like I was right on that tour with you. Two of my sisters-in-law are from Thailand. I’ll ask them if they know who the superhero is (or maybe my niece and nephew would know).
Awww, how fun! You should all visit Thailand together! You will have an awesome time! Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Wow, when I go to Thailand I’m definitely adding the White Temple to my itinerary.
You will love the whole area, Jay! Chiang Mai is wonderful, and from there you can book a tour to Chiang Rai. Aaah…I miss beautiful Thailand!
Such stunning architecture. Thank you for sharing the great tip regarding the 6month passport expiration.
Wow! The White Temple in Thailand is absolutely amazing! Every time we see Thailand on the show Amazing Race, it moves higher up on our list. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks for checking it out, Trisha! I have never watched Amazing Race, but I can tell you, Thailand is absolutely stunning in every way! You would be amazed when you visit! 🙂