Chiang Rai White Temple
 |
| The White Temple in late afternoon |
Chalermchai Kositpipat, a Chiang Rai artist, decided to restore and enlarge the original Wat Rong
 |
| The ubosot |
Khun in 1997. He decided to finance the project with his own money with the funds raised. Many other people joined his team to contribute to the construction. The project is still not fully completed. However, the ubosot (ordination hall) is finished and has already become an iconic monument both in Thailand and outside the country.
 |
| Side view with the crematorium |
It is an amazing piece of art mixing traditional elements with more modern ones. For instance, the Lanna classic architecture requires a three-tiered roof and protecting Nagas guarding the access to the
 |
| Reaching hands |
temple. The exterior of the temple is so ornate that from a distance it looks like a huge piece of lace. On the other hand, the interior has a definite modern look that includes a sitting white Buddha. The murals are made in pastel colors and represent good and evil pictures of our modern world. The plaster contains fragments of reflecting glass to make it glitter in the sunlight.
As a matter of fact, everything here is done according to the Buddhist
 |
| Mythological sculpture |
symbolism. The ubosot is white because it represents the mind. It follows a sort of initiation path leading to the enlightenment.
There is a small lake (a water symbol) in front of the White Temple and a symbolic bridge leads to the main entrance.
But, as you step onto the bridge, there is a circle on the left side full of reaching hands representing desire.
The bridge is the 'cycle of rebirth' where you leave greed, desire and temptations to reach a happier state free of suffering.
After crossing the bridge, you arrive at the 'Gate of Heaven' guarded by two mythological
 |
| Outside decoration |
creatures, one being Death and the other being Rahu, who decides on the fate of Men.
Then finally, after the symbolic transformation, you reach the White Temple, where you should have reached a state of purity and be ready for an after-life deprived of the reincarnation cycle of 7 stages.
 |
| The crematorium above the lake |
 |
| The Golden building |
On the lakeside, there is a golden building that symbolizes the body rather than the mind. Gold is the source of money and desire but the golden color stands for the way to make merits according to the Buddhist precept in order to focus on the mind.
There are many more things to see on the temple ground. There is also a crematorium in the back and an amazing wishing well. The garden is carefully tended and adorned with many flowers.
 |
| Wishing well |
 |
| New building under construction |
The entrance to the park is submitted for a small fee of THB50 and there is a restroom fee as well to avoid the unfortunate abuses formerly perpetrated by some Chinese tourists. Due to its high touristic affluence, shops, cafés, and restaurants have flourished around the temple.
 |
| Countryside view |
Yet, if you walk a few meters away from the parking area on the country road, there is a nice view over the paddy fields and a line of faraway hills. And here, there is a delightful local coffee shop built on stilt above the water with a shaded terrace with a view. Strangely, nobody comes here!
 |
| The White Temple, the lake and the bridge. |
No comments:
Post a Comment