4 fascinating Chiang Rai Temples that you need to visit

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Everyone who comes to Thailand majorly focuses on Central and Southern Thailand and totally forgets about Northern Thailand. Chiang Rai is a city in the Chiang Rai Province and is the northernmost large city in Thailand. It is all about temples, culture, mountain scenery, and art. Chiang Rai has a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere compared to its sister town Chiang Mai. The vibe of the city is unique and it focuses on the Lanna culture through its impressive temples.

Chiang Rai temples are the main reason people come here because they are larger-than-life, extravagant temples that are all unique to each other. I bet you would have never seen anything like this before in terms of architecture, color, and design.

While there are so many temples in Chiang Rai that are beautiful but only 4 stands out amazingly amongst all the others. In this post, I am going to talk about and show you these 4 most beautiful Chiang Rai temples that you absolutely shouldn’t miss whenever you visit here.

Must-Visit Chiang Rai Temples

1. THE WHITE TEMPLE

The epic white temple, also known as Wat Rong Khun is the most famous sight in the whole of Chiang Rai and a must-visit place when you are here. It’s one of the most fascinating Chiang rai temples, beautiful in every sense and the architecture is unique.

Buddhist temples are often known for their abundance of colors but Wat Rong Khun has broken this traditional concept with its sparkling white color and unique architecture. It looks so dramatic when you see it closely and its perfection from afar.

The temple is around 13kms from Chiang Rai city center so you will need some sort of transportation if you are coming from the city. If you are visiting here from Chiang Mai then it’s easy to visit here as it is on the way to the main city of Chiang Rai and can be seen from the main highway.

As soon as you set your eyes on this place, you are bound to be in awe. The exteriors are covered in white plaster with glass inserts. The facade is an elaborate artistic sight. The only building in the complex that is not white and is golden in color is the washroom.

Though it is called the White Temple, it’s actually a privately-owned art exhibit in Buddhist style. It is owned by Chalermchai Kositpitat who designed and constructed it.

Entrance Fee: There’s an entrance fee of 50 Baht for foreigners to visit the temple.
Google Location: Wat Rong Khun

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For more information about this temple on how to shoot, when to visit, and much more, you may want to read this other detailed post “The White Temple Chiang Rai – Everything you need to know“.

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2. WAT HUAY PLA KUNG

Wat Huay Pla Kung is a beautiful temple located on the top of a hill, 6km outside of Chiang Rai city. It. is often mistakenly referred to as the Big Buddha temple because of a large white statue which actually is the representation of Guan Yin – The Goddess of Mercy. Wat Huay Pla Kung is a temple complex consisting of 3 different temples built in their own space and each of them is different from the others.

How to Reach Here: It is best visited by rented car, grab, or songthaew as it is outside the city and it should cost you around 150 TBH to reach the temple from town.
Opening Hours: 7 am – 9:30 pm
Google Location: Wat Huay Pla Kung

A) Guan Yin – The Goddess of Mercy

The first and the most prominent white statue that you will see as soon as you are in the parking lot is Guan Yin – The Goddess of Mercy which is referred to as Big Buddha.

This statue is 23 stories high and the staircase leading to the statue is surrounded by enormous dragon sculptures that look super cool. I would recommend visiting here at sunrise. When the sunlight falls on the dragon statues as the sun rises, it makes a beautiful scene along with a great moment to take pictures.

If you come here by sunrise you will be pretty much done with your outside shots when the temple opens at 7 am. Take this opportunity to go inside the big statue and take an elevator for a stunning view of Chiang Rai. It will cost you 40 TBH to do that. The dot that you see on the forehead of Guan Yin is actually a window from where you get to see the view of Chiang Rai city.

B) The 9-tier temple

While everyone seems to focus on the dragons and the big statue of Guan Yin, this 9-tier pagoda is quite different and interesting in my opinion. The architecture of this temple is a traditional mix of the Lanna-Chinese style and it’s like no other. Generally, the chedis are golden in color but this one is so unique and 9-storied.

The whole aura of the place is calm and serene. This place is more sacred to people who come to worship so you will see a lot of monks around the temple. Make sure to be respectful and quiet at all times during your visit.

Each tier has its own balcony from where you can look out to the temple’s surroundings. Additionally, every single one of the 9 tiers features an incredible wooden Buddha statue. The ground floor of the temple is the most spacious, with enough room to sit and relax.

C) The Mini White Temple

There is a little white temple surrounded by large structures in between the 9 tier pagoda and giant Guan Yin. When you will look at it, it will give you a sense of peace and purity. Also, the giant Guan Yin appears in the background making it a pretty spot for a picture as well.

3. The Black House

Generally, called the black temple which is incorrect, the Black House or Baan Dam is actually a collection of wood buildings featuring works by Thawan Duchanee and some other contemporary Thai artists. It is located 10 km to the north of Chiang Rai city and is one of the most unique places that fall under Chiang Rai temples.

The Black House is a counterpart of the white temple with its black and dark brown color. It’s generally referred to as the Black Temple because of its temple-like appearance but it doesn’t have any religious significance.

This place serves as a museum showcasing the work of Dhawan Duchanee. Wandering on the grounds you will find a lot of animal remains. Animal skins, skulls, and bones are everywhere.

Google Location: Baan Dam Museum

4. The Blue Temple

The blue temple is my favorite temple in Chiang Rai because of its color combination, architecture, and overall look. It is also known as Wat Rong Suea Ten but tourists including locals call it the blue temple. It was completed in 2016 and it still isn’t very popular among tourists, unlike the white temple.

If you are wondering how can a completely blue-colored temple be a beautiful sight to see? Well, the wonderful part of this temple is that the shade of blue is Sapphire blue which is neither dull nor very vibrant that may hurt your eyes. Along with all the blue majority of intricate details used are with the golden color which makes this temple stand out even more.

The incredible modern details are completely mind-blowing. It’s vibrant, contemporary, and unique in so many ways. There are few sections in this temple and every section is detailed, decorated, and thorough.

The inside of the temple looks like royal art meets the temple interior. I can’t emphasize enough how much everyone needs to see this place with their own eyes. The entrance is free and it is located a few kilometers outside Chiang Rai.

Opening hours: 7 am – 8 pm
Google Location: Blue Temple

Other Chiang Rai Temples

Apart from these 4 beautiful Chiang Rai temples, there are a few other temples that are worth mentioning and if you have more than 2 days in Chiang Rai then visiting them will be a good chance to see the usual temple architecture of Buddhist temples.

1. Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong

Located on a hilltop, Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong is one of the oldest Chiang Rai temples and an important one. It is said that the temple existed even before the city was founded by King Mengrai in 1262. The 14 meters high golden chedi of Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong is the main attraction of the temple and is located in the center of the Wat.

Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 6 am – 5 pm
Google Location: Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong
How to Reach Here: The temple is located on the top of Doi Chom Thong, about 1.2 northwest of the city center, and easily accessible by songthaew.

2. Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh is a Buddhist temple and one of the most important and religious of all Chiang Rai temples built by Pra Chao Maha Proma that dates back to the late 14th century. The temples have a striking similarity with Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai. The main building is Lanna style and its doors are decorated with superb wooden carvings gilded with gold. One of the most highly worshipped images of Phra Singh was once enshrined in this temple.

Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 6 am – 5 pm
Google Location: Wat Phra Singh

3. Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Kaew is another temple that dates back to 14th century and is a royal temple. The main building of the temple is built in Chiang Saen style. It houses Phra Chao Lan Thong, a beautiful 700 years old bronze sitting Buddha image in palawa style. It is also one of the Chiang Rai temples that hosted the Emerald Buddha.

Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 6 am – 5 pm
Google Location: Wat Phra Kaew

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

As there are no direct flights or trains from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, the most convenient way is to take a bus, a tuk-tuk, taxi or rent a self-drive car if you are comfortable. A day trip is also possible but I would highly recommend to spend a day or 2 in Chiang Rai to explore properly. The roads are fine, we had absolutely no problem and the journey is only around 3 hrs.

I hope I have convinced you to visit Chiang Rai and it’s beautiful temples because the beauty of these temples can’t be described in words and you should definitely see them in person once in your life. In my opinion, it definitely deserves a visit and it shouldn’t be missed at all.

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