White Temple Chiang Rai – Everything you need to know

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Anyone who has heard of Chiang Rai or maybe a little about it would have definitely known because of its famous and most unique place called White temple. When you think of this pretty little town, I am sure the one thing that comes to your mind must be the White Temple. After all this temple and Chiang Rai go hand in hand.

When I first saw some pictures of this place a few years ago on Instagram, I found it so beautiful and the architecture looked just so unique but still eerie. I immediately knew that I have to go and see this place someday with my own eyes.

Apart from this astonishing White temple, there are a few more temples that totally deserve your attention and should be on your list. Spoiler alert: White Temple isn’t my favourite temple in Chiang Rai 😜, it’s another one.

If you wish to read about more temples in Chiang Rai then I have a detailed post on ‘Most beautiful Chiang Rai Temples, Thailand’.

History of White Temple in Chiang Rai

The white temple, also known as Wat Rong Khun is actually a privately owned art exhibit. It is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat who has designed & constructed it.

Until the end of the 20th century, Wat Rong Khun was a Buddhist temple and it was almost in ruins and needed repairs. Due to the lack of funding, the restoration work couldn’t be completed. So an artist from Chiang Rai, Chalermchai Kositpipat stepped in and decided to rebuild the whole temple and personally fund it as well. This temple is a brainchild of this artist.

Buddhist temples are usually very colorful with a lot of use of golden color but this temple has broken this tradition and is still very famous and must-see place when in Chiang Rai.

Important Information before visiting White Temple

There are certain things you must know before you visit this famous place like the opening hours, how to get there etc. You will not need to know anything apart from all the information provided here.

How to get to the White Temple from Chiang Rai?

The temple is located around 13 km from the city center of Chiang Rai and will take around 15 mins to reach. In my opinion, you will need some sort of transportation to reach here. I didn’t see many tuk-tuks or taxis on this spot, however, there were a lot of tourists buses.

It’s better to rent a motorbike or car if you feel comfortable driving but if not you can always book a tuktuk or taxi for a return trip.

White Temple Opening Hours & Dress Code

This place opens from 8 am till 5 pm on weekdays and till 5:30 pm on weekends. This isn’t a religious place but still, for some reason, locals considered it as a temple so be sure to wear modest clothes and cover your knees and shoulder.

Best time to visit White Temple

Usually, if you would ask me what is the best time to visit a place, I would always say be at the place as soon as it opens. But in the case of the White Temple, it’s totally the opposite. You should enter the temple just before the closing time. This is the time when you will get the least crowd and it will make your experience of seeing the place and shooting much easy.

White Temple Chiang Rai Entrance Fee

Though the temple complex is free to visit, the only section where you have to pay the entrance fee is the main area of the white temple. There is an entry fee of 50 Baht for foreigners and locals can go for free. I suggest always carrying an ID with you in case if someone asks.

Best angles and perspectives to photograph

As this place is not really a temple, the artist took the liberty of all the possible imagination he could get. The art throughout the complex is inspired by Buddhist beliefs and teachings. The main focus of the art is to tell the visitors about the problems of modern society.

The art pieces seem to confront the visitor with the mundane and impure aspects of life. There are sculptures of devils in strong red and yellow colors, suggesting not to smoke or drink alcohol. For instance, a tree right at the entrance with a bottle of Whiskey on top of a head skull, and another one features a non-smoking sign surrounded by flames.

There is no shortage of spectacular spots to take photographs in the temple complex and in the main temple area. As soon as you pay for the ticket, you will enter the main temple area after getting your tickets checked.

You may also find certain sections on the side of the main temple closed for renovation sometimes. If you think that you can try and enter those restricted zones, you are mistaking. There are several guards on the ground that maintains the discipline of entering and leaving the place.

NOTE: You are not allowed to turn back when you cross a small part of the bridge. This whole temple complex is one way and there are guards who will remind you this so please respect the rules.

1.  The bridge of “The Cycle of Rebirth”

Just as you enter the temple complex, the first site that you will encounter is a pond-like structure with several hands reaching out and a white narrow bridge that goes to the main building. This bridge is the only way to enter the main building hence the busiest part.

The hundreds of outreaching hands symbolise unrestrained desire. The bridge proclaims that the way to happiness is by foregoing temptation, greed, and desire. ⁣

It is a very ornate structure, featuring plenty of religious images. It is guarded by two statues of kinnaras, the half-man and half-bird creatures of Thai mythology that are believed to protect people.

There are a few angles to photograph the bridge:

From the front

From the side (You can choose either of the sides)

2. Gate Of Heaven

Right across the bridge is the gate of Heaven and it’s guarded by 2 creatures, Death and Rahu. They decide the fate of the dead. This is a beautiful place to take pictures and I highly recommend using your widest angle lens possible.

3. The Ubosot

The principal building of this temple is called the Ubosot and is a simple concrete structure with a wooden roof. However, all the exteriors are covered in white plaster along with fragments of mirror glass.

The white color represents purity and the glass was used as a symbol of the wisdom of Buddha. The architecture is amazing and you will be in awe.

The roof and walls are filled with ornaments and embellishments. The architecture also comprises of traditional Thai architectural elements, such as the three-tiered roof and the stylized edges.

The sides of the main building depict flames and demon faces. The sides are comparatively less crowded so you can take some time photographing it. The details are stunning and pure art. This building represents the mind of humans and the moral is that people are wicked. 

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4. The Golden Building

This is the only building that is not white, and it is where the washrooms are located. It strikes out as it is completely golden, another very decorated structure. It represents the body. The golden color symbolizes how people are focussed on money and materialistic things.

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Considering that Chiang Rai is very close to Chiang Mai, you may want to combine both the places in a single trip. There are so many beautiful temples in Chiang Mai too and they are very different from the ones in Chiang Rai. As there are no direct flights or trains so the most convenient way is to take a bus, car or taxi.

If you are comfortable self-driving then car is the most comfortable option as the road is good and you will have no problem.

Read here Best temples in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Until the next post.

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