Is this temple in heaven or earth?!?!? There’s No word to say how beautiful this temple is…
Wat Rong Khun is a contemporary temple in Chaing Rai (approximately 13 km from the city), a Northern Province bordered by Chaing Mai.
The temple was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, one of the most famous artisans in Thailand.
Mr.Chalermchai was born in Rong Khun Village, which the temple is named for. His believes’ are strongly routed in Buddhism, most of his paintings are about the story of Buddha.
Construction on the temple began in 1996 and cost more than 700 million bath to work on the temple which never to get finished after the death of the artist and designer!
Lot’s of money for making the temple, but guess what? The entry is FREE!
When following the path around the temple you start off crossing a ‘moat’ around which hundreds of casts of arms & hands are reaching up at you.
But you will find one hand; let’s guess woman’s or man’s?!?!!? The artist explained that this hand is a woman’s hand. As our Buddha bible said, in among of 100 bad people, there would be only one woman in that group.
Why? Because guys have more chances to be a bad person, like Wars, killings, etc when women won’t do those kinds of things…it’s a nice idea but it’s just the wrong finger???
Following the path along and you will enter the main area of the temple which does NOT allow PICTURES.
A beautiful white ordination hall—Phra Ubosot—is decorated with silver glittering pieces of mirrors. You will see them over every inch…Even the signs for the restrooms or Non-smoking signs… they are so NEAT!
There are viharn, small halls for recitation surrounding the ordination hall, museum, and reception pavilion. The gallery exhibits paintings of Chaloemchai Khositphiphat which inside has an interesting mix of old & new – painting of characters from films or news.
You can watch the designer’s students working on the decoration of the building and pain-staking work in adding the tiny bits of mirror which create the incredible reflections visible from the building.
No doubt, that why? Wat Rong Khun becomes one of the Must See temple in Thailand!
Chiang Rai is good place to spend about 2-3 days, there are things to see or to do but not as much as Chiang Mai.
But Chiang Rai is still much more nature, just like this python- it’s as big as I am!
Stay at a nice hotel and try the elephant ride and spend some time at the night market which is well worth the night in Chaing Rai.
It looks like only Thai Airways operates flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai… But keep checking!
