White Temple in Thailand Wat Rong Khun - brilliant splendor! White temple in chiang rai thailand white temple.
They are simply wonderful, but the impression of the country will be incomplete without visiting the northern provinces. And especially their attractions. Wat Rong Khun or, as it is often called, the White Temple has become one of the most popular in Thailand in the last decade. Every year it attracts an increasing number of tourists who want to see the snow-white miracle with their own eyes.
Wat Rong Khun is far from the only white temple in Thailand; in Krabi province, in Krabi town, a temple of the same color was built. However, the White Temple in Chiang Rai is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the white temples I have ever seen. Wat Rong Khun is so famous in Thailand that its photos always appear at the top of searches for "Chiang Rai".
Some tourists deliberately avoid Wat Rong Khun: this is a remake, why see it? In fact, the significance of the temple is not in the age of construction, but in the symbolism of the idea. Every detail of the temple carries its own meaning and encourages visitors to think about Buddhist teachings, which talk about worldly temptations, desires, greed and their influence on the minds of people.
The design of the entire temple complex uses pieces of mirrors that sparkle in the sun. The white color of the temple represents the purity of the Buddha, and the mirrors symbolize the wisdom of the Buddha and Buddhist teachings. Wat Rong Khun was designed by a Thai artist named Chalermchai Kositpipat. Construction of the White Temple began in 1997 and is still ongoing. The temple is being built with the personal money of Chalemchay Kositpipat and donations, like. According to the artist's plan, the site will have nine buildings, including a botsot, a hall with Buddhist relics, a meditation hall, living quarters for monks and an art gallery. Perhaps in 50-60 years we will see Wat Rong Khun in all its splendor.
The central place in the complex is occupied by the main building - ubotsot. A bridge leads to it across the pond, symbolizing the cycle of rebirth. First, from both edges of the bridge you will see hundreds of hands - these are desires, temptations, greed, human suffering and hell. The path to happiness lies through overcoming such worldly things. Two huge demons guard the road to Nirvana.
The main building is designed in the classic style of northern Thai temples with a three-level roof and Naga snakes. But if inside the ancient temples on the walls you can see frescoes with scenes from Buddhist history, then Wat Rong Khun depicts modern ideas about good and evil: Spider-Man, Neo from the Matrix, Batman, villains and superheroes from films, comics and real life. Here you can see the explosion of the American Twin Towers, an erupting volcano, nuclear missiles, and weapons. And, of course, images and a statue of Buddha. Photography and video shooting are prohibited inside the main building. Reproductions of the frescoes can be purchased in the gift shop. Wat Rong Khun is not the only temple in Thailand with such modern paintings. This is a new trend in modern temple painting, and such a surrealistic vision of the world is extremely interesting.
On the territory of the temple complex, one cannot help but notice the golden building. Its color was not chosen by chance. In contrast to snow-white purity, gold symbolizes the concentration of worldly desires and money. Chalemchai Kositpipat calls it the body while ubotsot is the mind. It is no coincidence that there is a toilet in such a luxurious golden building. The connection between the worship of worldly desires and their real cost is immediately visible.
There are still many different statues on the territory of the temple complex. Here are the half-woman, half-bird Kinnari, and dragons, and the character from the film Predator, and many others.
Entrance to the White Temple is free, and tips for the construction of the temple are welcome. You can buy metal petals, write your wish on them and hang them on a special tree. Visit the gallery of Chalemchai Kositpipat's works, where you can see sculptures and early paintings by the artist.
It is better to come to Wat Rong Khun early in the morning or closer to sunset so that there are not so many tourists. The White Temple can be visited on a tour to the Golden Triangle from Chiang Mai.
Location: 15 kilometers from Chiang Rai on Phahonyothin Road.
Coordinates: 19.824264, 99.763080
How to get there: by taxi or songthaew from the bus station near the night market in the center of Chiang Rai.
Opening hours: from 8 am to 6 pm.
Futuristic temple of Thailand Wat Rong Khun May 4th, 2013
The Wat Rong Khun Temple, or White Temple, the work of the artist Chalermchai Kasitpipat, is a very beautiful structure, despite the fact that it was built by an enthusiast with his own money.
For the first time seeing images of the “White Temple”, also known as Wat Rong Khun, you might decide that this is just high-quality computer graphics. The architecture of the structure is so unique that one simply cannot believe that the temple is real! However, the “White Temple” is quite real and is located in the north of Thailand.
Wat Rong Khun is one of the most unique structures in Thailand. Unusual architecture and dozens (if not hundreds) of snow-white alabaster sculptures amaze tourists from the first minutes!
The White Temple, as a symbol of the purity of Buddha and nirvana, a reminder of the eternal struggle between good and evil, was started in 1998 and should consist of 9 structures. Construction has been going on for more than 12 years, and Chalermchai believes that the project will be finally completed in about 90 years. During this time, he will have time to die and after his death, young architects will complete the long-term construction.
It is interesting that the artist Chalermchai directs all the proceeds from the sale of his paintings to construction, completely refusing sponsorship so that no one can influence his plans and imagination. He has already invested several million dollars in the temple. True, it is somewhat doubtful that so many talents could be concentrated in one person to have time to independently paint the interiors of Wat Rong Khun, maintain the entire infrastructure in good condition and, moreover, have time to earn a living. He probably still accepts donations, especially since the religious building turned out to be truly unearthly in beauty. And for this you need to devote a lot of time to design.
The temple is located in the province of Chiang Rai, in a place called Amphuar. Construction of the temple began relatively recently (in 1998), and some objects are still being built. One of the initiators of the construction is a certain Kositpipat Chalermchai, who in Thailand was nicknamed the modern Salvador Dali. It was the drawings and drawings of this artist that served as the basis for creating the image of the “White Temple”. In addition, the man fully sponsors the construction of the temple, and almost all the objects of the structure were built exclusively with his funds! The artist himself, when asked about financing, answers that he is building the temple with his own money due to the fact that in this way no one can dictate their terms to him. In general, “White Temple” is a living embodiment of the fantasies of a Thai artist. Naturally, such large-scale work is definitely beyond the capabilities of one person, so Kositpipat involved his brother in the work, whom he appointed chief engineer of the ambitious project.
The artist Chalermchai Kasitpipata himself, when asked about financing, answers that he is building the temple with his own money because in this way no one can dictate terms to him. In general, “White Temple” is a living embodiment of the fantasies of a Thai artist. Naturally, such large-scale work is definitely beyond the capabilities of one person, so Kositpipat involved his brother in the work, whom he appointed chief engineer of the ambitious project.
The territory of the temple itself is well landscaped. There are many fountains, fancy sculptures, and beautiful fish swimming in a small pond. It is worth noting that entrance to the temple territory is absolutely free!
The meaning of the compositions of most sculptures is very difficult to understand. Here you have the dragons so familiar to Asia, and hundreds of hands that are reaching out to you, as if wanting to grab you. Moreover, if dragons are depicted as very peace-loving creatures, then the hand sculptures are quite ominous!
The inside of the temple is no less interesting than the outside. There are several sculptures and images of Buddha here, but the highlight of the temple interior is a painting depicting the battle between good and evil! In addition to standard plots, there was also a place on the canvas for modern heroes, such as Neo from “The Matrix” (the artist considers Keanu Reeves his favorite actor), Jedi from “Star Wars”, robots and various monsters! And all this surrealism harmonizes well with the images of Buddha and his disciples! Photography inside the temple is strictly prohibited.
The above-mentioned painting was created by Kositpipat Chalermchai over the course of three years. Talking about his creation, the artist notes that he tried to show eternal truths (good and evil) in understandable images for modern people. This is such an unusual interpretation!
Located in Chiang Rai province, Wat Rong Khun is different from other temples in Thailand in many ways. Made in white, it seems to emphasize the purity of the Buddha, and the sparkling glass speaks of the Buddha’s wisdom shining both on earth and throughout the Universe. Each element and architectural form carries some kind of semantic meaning. For example, the bridge is seen as a transition from endless cycles of rebirth to the abode of Buddha, and the semicircle in front of the bridge symbolizes the earthly world.
The paintings of the temple also deserve a few words. In religious scenes, the author uses modern plots from the films “The Matrix”, “Star Wars”, as well as high-profile incidents - for example, the September 9 terrorist attack in the USA. According to the guide, the artist thus wants to reach the consciousness of young people, speaking to them in their own language. It is doubtful that such illustrations will persuade anyone to become more religious, but it looks unusual and fresh. The rest of the paintings that decorate the temple mainly depict attempts to avoid earthly temptations and achieve nirvana.
There are animals on the roof, each of which represents earth, air, water and fire.
According to tourists who visited this miracle iconic architecture, the splendor of the temple is simply amazing, it is beautiful both at dawn, when the first rays of the sun slide across the roof of the temple, and against the backdrop of a clear clear sky, and in the rays of sunset, and even at night, illuminated by the moon. 
The White Temple combines a beautiful blend of traditional Buddhist art with modern design solutions. The completely snow-white walls and sculptures sparkle, reflecting the shades of dawn and evening sunset. The walls are decorated with small pieces of mirror glass, which gives the structure a heavenly airiness and a magical look.
Here is another interpretation of this architecture: The main building is surrounded by a pond with white fish. The bridge leading to the temple represents the cycle of rebirth on the way to the Buddha's abode. The circle with fangs in front of the bridge symbolizes the mouth of Rahu, representing the circles of hell and suffering. In front of the chapels and at the end of the bridge there are several sculptures of Buddha in the lotus position surrounded by the spirits of the world. Inside the temple the walls are in golden tones, in the center of the golden flame is the altar of Buddha. On the four walls are depicted four animals, symbolizing the four elements: the elephant stands on the ground, the naga stands above the water, the swan's wings represent the wind, and the lion's mane represents fire.
His White Temple is a symbol of paradise, where a narrow bridge leads across a river full of sinners. It is important to know that once you enter the Temple via the bridge, you cannot return back across it - you end up back in hell. Every sculpture, every detail in this carved snow-white splendor carries a certain meaning and purpose, starting with the white color of the Temple itself - a symbol of the purity of the Buddha, and the glass interspersed throughout - a symbol of the wisdom of the Buddha, which shines brightly throughout the Earth and the Universe.
Kositpipat Chalermchai took three years to create this painting. As the girl guide explained, such unusual images for the temple are explained by the fact that the artist wants to show eternal truths in a language that is more understandable and close to the modern younger generation, hence such an unusual interpretation.
The interior decoration of the White Temple is no less symbolic. The walls here are painted in Chalemchay's favorite style. Visitors are presented with an impressive painting symbolizing the struggle between the forces of Evil and Good. Here you can see Neo and Superman, rockets flying into space, Hydra looking like a gas station hose and devouring the Twin Towers, cars, mobile phones and planes shooting lasers. All this unusual theme for churches is laconically integrated into national motifs, making it possible to visually present eternal truths in a language understandable to modern young people.
Around the temple there are many unusual alabaster-mirror sculptures that amaze visitors.
Opposite the White Temple is the Golden Temple, which turns out to be just a public toilet. This is the artist’s unusual way of looking at things!
There is also a gallery on site where you can see other works of the artist and buy yourself some souvenir to remember your visit to such an unusual place.
Work on finishing the temple is still ongoing. Nearby there is a workshop where amazing sculptures are created.
Also in Chiang Rai there is another interesting creation by the unusual artist Kositpipat Chalermchai - this is a clock, looking at which there is no doubt about who created it
Wat Rong Khun from Chiang Rai province is far from the oldest and largest temple in Thailand. It does not store the great ones Buddhist relics. Crowds of pilgrims do not flock here. Strictly speaking, it's not even finished yet. However, it is one of the most recognizable temples in the country and one of the main tourist attractions in the northern part of the kingdom.
Among travelers, Wat Rong Khun is better known as the “White Temple”. The name, as you might guess, comes from the dazzling white color in which it is completely painted on the outside. This color scheme, unique for Thai temple architecture, is its main calling card.
Another feature that makes Wat Rong Khun stand out from the rest of the 33 thousand Buddhist temples Thailand - its non-canonical iconography. Along with the traditional symbols of Buddhism, among the elements of its decor one can be surprised to find “stars” of Western mass culture such as Neo from the movie “The Matrix”, Schwarzenegger’s Terminator T-800 and even angry birds from a computer game that was sensational in the recent past.
Wat Rong Khun is the most unusual temple in Thailand.
The White Temple owes entirely to its creator, the Thai artist Charlemchai Kositpipat, such unexpected eclecticism for a religious building, as well as the unusual snow-white color.
Artist, Buddhist, philanthropist
In a sense, the eccentric Mr. Kositpipat himself is one of the features of Wat Rong Khun. He is the sole author of this project, the main creation of his life. Nothing is done in the White Temple without his knowledge; Everything here, from the first to the last detail, was invented by him and built exclusively with his personal money.
Kositpipat's biography is a rare case when one can say that the artist painted his own life. He was born on February 15, 1955 in one of the small Thai villages in Chiang Rai province. His family, which was poor even by the modest standards of the Thai wilderness, was looked down upon by his fellow villagers. It was then that Charlemchay had a desire to escape from the provincial poverty of his small homeland and become rich and famous.
The passion for drawing, which had possessed him since childhood, helped him do this. Deciding to become a professional artist, he went to Bangkok and entered one of the capital's universities.
Living in a big city, the future creator of the White Temple began to think about the life paths of other people, trying to understand why some artists become rich and successful, while others do not. Carefully analyzing the works of famous masters and noticing what made their creations great, he tried to apply what he found in his paintings.
The efforts were not in vain, and the works of Kositpipat himself began to enjoy popularity. By 1978, when Charlemchai graduated from university with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, he was already earning money from his paintings.
Gradually, national fame and success came to him, and he became the most famous artist of his country. Among his wealthy clients was even the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej himself. This, however, was not enough for Kositpipat. He wanted the whole world to talk about him.
This wish came true with the construction of the White Temple.
Piety and Ambition
All of Charlemchai’s works, starting from his first student works, have always been connected in one way or another with Buddhism. As he grew older, his commitment to the Buddhist faith only grew. Therefore, when he learned that in his home province of Chiang Rai one of the old temples had completely fallen into disrepair, and the local authorities did not have the money to repair it, he decided to personally take on its restoration. And at the same time turn it into the most ambitious art project of your life.
By that time, 42-year-old Kositpipat was already an accomplished artist and a very wealthy man who could afford to carry out construction entirely with his own money. This allowed Charlemchai to avoid any outside influence and implement all his ideas exactly. And there was no shortage of them.
Traditions plus the author's approach
Kositpipat began construction of the White Temple in 1997. He approached the matter not only creatively, as befits an artist, but also radically. All that remained of the old temple was its former name - Wat Rong Khun, and everything else was invented and rebuilt from scratch.
It must be said that the word “wat” in Thailand does not mean any individual building, but an entire temple complex. Therefore, Wat Rong Khun should not be correctly understood as a single standing temple, but as one architectural ensemble. According to the project, it includes nine buildings. The construction and finishing of most of them has not yet been completed.
It is believed that work at Wat Rong Khun will continue for at least half a century.
The Wat Rong Khun temple complex includes nine buildings. Most of them are white. The entire temple complex is a strange mixture of traditional Thai architecture and the imagination of Charlemchai Kositpipat himself. According to the artist’s plan, every detail of Wat Rong Khun should carry a certain symbolic meaning and prompt temple visitors to think about Buddhism.
Thus, the white color of most of the buildings of Wat Rong Khun symbolizes the purity of the Buddhist faith, as well as the primacy of the spiritual principle in a person over his base bodily needs. The snow-white effect is enhanced by pieces of mirrors, which, like a mosaic, are generously laid out on all elements of the external decor. They are meant to depict the sparkling wisdom of Buddhism.
The most important building and the “face” of the entire complex is the snow-white ubosot (in Thailand, this is the name given to the central building of the wata, which houses the statue of Buddha and where prayers and main religious ceremonies are performed). It is he who attracts the most attention from tourists and appears in most photographs taken at Wat Rong Khun.
A magnificent bridge leads to the ubosot, in front of which hands stretch out from under the ground in silent despair in a semicircle. They symbolize a person’s futile pursuit of momentary pleasures and attempts to satisfy insatiable passions. All this, according to Buddhist ideas, gives rise to suffering, which can only be eliminated by renouncing earthly attachments and desires. Only then does a person begin his spiritual growth and get a chance to achieve nirvana - the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
Hands outstretched upward as a symbol of earthly passions and desires. Bypassing earthly passions and vices, the visitor begins to climb the bridge leading to the ubosot. Walking along it is a symbol of overcoming samsara, the cycle of earthly rebirths, and its highest point is the sacred Mount Meru, the mythical center of the Buddhist universe. According to mythology, in which the mountain is surrounded sea waters, there is a small pond under the bridge.
After crossing the bridge, tourists find themselves in front of the entrance to the ubosot. Its three levels of roof, traditional for Buddhist temple architecture in Thailand, symbolize wisdom, concentration and religious precepts. The decoration of the temple, thought out to the smallest detail, is striking.
The inside of the ubosot is decorated with wall paintings made in the original style of Charlemchai Kositpipat, for which he had previously been criticized by traditionalists.
In 1988 - 1992, he and another artist painted the walls of the first Thai Buddhist wat in the UK called Buddhapadipa (located in Wimbledon, a southwestern suburb of London). Then, with their light hand, Margaret Thatcher and Mother Teresa, as well as images of the authors themselves, appeared on the walls of the temple among scenes of Buddhist myths.
Not everyone liked the innovative approach, and the experimenters were initially criticized a lot - from the Thai government to other Thai artists and the monks themselves. But gradually the passions subsided, and people got used to the “unformatted” frescoes.
Several years passed, and when decorating Wat Rong Khun, Kositpipat again decided to give free rein to his imagination. Moreover, this time he sent the canons of Buddhist iconography into an even more unbridled creative flight. Along with the usual images and techniques of temple painting, Charlemchai used characters from Western popular culture to personify the vices of modern society. Therefore, on the inner walls of the ubosot you can see, for example, Freddy Krueger, Alien and the terrorist attack on the New York Twin Towers, and also, for some reason, Harry Potter and Spiderman.
All covered in gold, absolutely all... the toilet of Wat Rong Khun. Another non-standard creative move of Charlemchai is a large, luxuriously decorated and generously gilded... toilet. According to the author’s idea, such a deliberately chic design of a banal outhouse should show the futility of a person’s pursuit of material wealth and excessive passion for perishable values to the detriment of spiritual development.
Black Day of the White Temple
When starting the construction of the White Temple, Charlemchai Kositpipat was full of enthusiasm and determination to complete it at any cost. However, there was a moment when he almost gave up everything, almost putting an end to the history of Wat Rong Khun.
The artist's hands gave up on May 5, 2014, when at 18:08 local time the temple was seriously damaged by an earthquake of magnitude 6.3. Kostpipat, who by that time had spent almost 20 years of his life and more than 40 million Thai baht of his personal money on its construction, was close to despair.
After the first inspection of the damage received, a dejected Charlemchai told the press that he would not restore the temple, and all its buildings would be demolished for safety reasons. However, immediately after this, words of support poured in from all over the world. He received hundreds of phone calls. People urged him not to abandon the White Temple, which, in their opinion, had already become an artistic treasure of the whole world.
The Thai government also offered assistance, immediately sending a team of engineers to Wat Rong Khun to assess the extent of the damage. Their verdict was more than encouraging: the load-bearing structures and foundations did not suffer critical damage, and the buildings of the temple complex could be restored.
In addition, they promised to help with workers Armed forces and universities in the country. Many individuals and organizations also expressed their readiness to provide assistance.
Bridge in front of the ubosot. A mirror mosaic is visible. Encouraged by the commission's findings and flattered by the support he received, Mr. Kositpipat immediately perked up. On the morning of May 7, he promised that he would restore the White Temple in the next two years, and some buildings would be reopened to tourists the very next day. In addition, the artist explained his first statement about the closure of the temple as a deliberate step. So he allegedly wanted to check whether his work was really important to people and the state.
Currently, work at Wat Rong Khun is ongoing. The author of the project firmly intends to restore exactly all the wall paintings and decorative elements destroyed by the earthquake. In the meantime, due to restoration efforts, tourists are temporarily prohibited from taking photographs inside the temple.
The temple complex Wat Rong Khun is located 13 kilometers southwest of the city of Chiang Rai. A taxi ride to him will take about twenty minutes and cost 250 – 300 baht. Public transport(minibus) will cost much less (20 baht), while the travel time will hardly increase and will be about half an hour.
You should choose appropriate clothing for visiting the temple. It shouldn't be too open. Bare legs will be especially reprehensible.
Wat Rong Khun is open daily and admission is free. You can support the construction by making a donation, but it should not exceed 10 thousand baht, as the artist does not want to be influenced by wealthy sponsors. An analogue of a donation would be the purchase of one of Charlemchai Kositpipat’s original paintings, which are sold in the gallery at the temple.
In general, Wat Rong Khun is very popular among foreign tourists, who are brought here by busloads. Therefore, it is usually quite crowded here. There are also quite a few Thais, but they mostly come on weekends or holidays.
In the afternoon, when tourists leave, there are significantly fewer people.
Golden cage for Rajput aristocrats
The history of the appearance of one of the main architectural masterpieces Northern India - Jaipur's Hawa Mahal Palace - began long before its actual construction in 1799. Like other cultural features of the region, this building is the result of many centuries of confrontation and difficult convergence between Hindu and Islamic traditions. In this sense, Hawa Mahal dates back to events that began in the 8th century, when Northern India for the first time faced the threat of Muslim expansion.
As you know, in its initial stages, the Indians were lucky. For a long time they managed to successfully repel all attempts by the aliens to gain a foothold east of the Indus. However, from the end of the 12th century, various Islamic rulers, despite desperate Indian resistance, began to move deeper into the subcontinent.
Each step was given to the attackers with great difficulty. The Rajputs, representatives of different ethnic groups from the varna of Kshatriya warriors, resisted the invaders especially stubbornly. Their small principalities turned out to be a tough nut to crack for Muslims and delayed the Islamic seizure of Indian lands for a long time.
View of the top two floors of the Hawa Mahal from the inside of the building. The Rajput states of the present Indian state of Rajasthan defended their freedom for the longest time with arms in hand. Only the mighty Mughal Empire was able to turn them into its vassals, but even under the all-powerful Mughal rule, the warlike Rajputs repeatedly rebelled.
Cultural exchange
Despite centuries of hostility, Rajput-Mughal relations were not limited to military conflicts alone. Over the long years of coexistence, representatives of the upper classes of the Rajputs adopted some of their traditions from their overlords. In particular, women from aristocratic Rajput families over time began to observe purdah, a Muslim custom of female seclusion. In addition, the Rajputs borrowed many features of their architecture from the Mughals.
The arcades and domes of the Hawa Mahal clearly indicate Mughal influence on Rajput architecture. It was as a peculiar result of these borrowings that a wonderful monument of Indian architecture called Hawa Mahal appeared in 1799.
The main symbol of Jaipur
Hawa Mahal is located in Jaipur, the famous Pink City of India, which was founded on November 18, 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II as the new capital of his ancient Rajput princely state. Today, this bustling three million population is the main city of the largest Indian state - hot and desert Rajasthan.
Jaipur owes its poetic second name to the color of the sandstone from which its historical center was built. It is here, in the very heart of the old city, that the most popular attraction and symbol of Jaipur is located - the Hawa Mahal Palace.
This beautiful five-story building tapering upward was built in 1799 by the grandson of the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Pratap Singh. It is believed that Hawa Mahal was built in the shape of the crown of the god Krishna, to whom the maharaja was very devoted. The palace harmoniously combines Hindu and Mughal architectural traditions, being a true embodiment of Rajput architecture.
Like the rest of the buildings in historical center city, Hawa Mahal is built of red sandstone. In addition, the outside is painted soft pink, beautifully accentuated by white canvas and patterns.
The most recognizable feature of the Hawa Mahal is the special jharokas balconies that adorn each of the five floors of the main façade of the building. They are gracefully decorated with decorative domed canopies and covered with openwork carved screens with tiny windows.
The “crest” of the five-story main facade of Hawa Mahal is 15 meters high. Despite this, it has very thin walls: their thickness is only 20 centimeters. Jharokas represent one of the most characteristic features of Rajput architecture. It is interesting that, for all their aesthetic merits, they were not just elements of the artistic decoration of a building, but were built with a clear practical purpose.
Life imprisonment in Rajput style
As already mentioned, under the Mughal rule, the highest Hindu Rajput aristocracy adopted the Islamic tradition of purdah. According to it, women of noble Rajput houses were forbidden to appear before strangers. This essentially meant that they were doomed to be locked up for the rest of their lives. The only “interaction” with the outside world for them came down to passive observation of urban everyday life. For this purpose, closed balconies-jharokas, characteristic of Rajput architecture, were invented, which came in handy during the construction of Hawa Mahal.
The intricately decorated outer wall of the Hawa Mahal contrasts sharply with the unpretentious appearance of its rear facade, which (like the interior of the building) is quite simple and practically devoid of decoration. The fact is that Hawa Mahal is directly adjacent to the women's wing of the huge City Palace complex. It was built for the aristocrats from the princely house of the Maharaja of Jaipur who lived there. Each of the women in Hawa Mahal was assigned a small private room, closed from prying eyes with a jharoka. While there, the owner of the room could quietly observe the street life of the city, which was forbidden to her.
Natural conditioner
Apart from the Rajput balconies, an interesting feature of the Hawa Mahal is its ability to easily allow cool outside air to pass through. For this, in fact, it got its name, which translates as “Palace of the Winds.”
The property of self-cooling, valuable for sultry Rajasthan, appeared in Hawa Mahal due to its special flat layout. Of the five floors of the palace, the top three are only one room thick, which allows the wind to flow freely throughout all rooms of the building. In addition, previously the natural air conditioning system was supplemented by fountains.
The unusual Hawa Mahal Palace with its delicate jharok balconies is very popular among tourists. Jaipur is well connected to the rest of India by roads and railways and has... international Airport, so there are always a lot of both local and foreign visitors here.
Since Hawa Mahal was a kind of iron curtain between the women of the princely house and the outside world, it has no entrance from the main facade. Everyone who had the right to enter here did so from the territory of the City Palace. Today, to get inside, you need to go around Hawa Mahal on the left.
The palace does not have the usual stairs to reach the upper floors. Instead, special ramps are installed. After passing through the majestic entrance gate, the visitor finds himself in a spacious courtyard, surrounded on three sides by two-story buildings. On the fourth side is the Hawa Mahal itself, covering the courtyard from the east. Tourists can climb to the very top of the building and enjoy beautiful views to the city. From above, for example, you can clearly see the famous Jantar Mantar observatory and the City Palace.
There is also a small Archaeological Museum. The miniature paintings on display here and rich artifacts such as ceremonial armor will help visitors relive images of the distant Rajput past.
Hawa Mahal is open from 9:00 to 17:00. Best time The best time to visit is early morning, when the Palace of the Winds looks especially stunning, emitting an orange-pink glow in the golden rays of the rising sun.
Entry fee for foreign adults is INR 50; students pay half as much. A guide will cost 200 rupees, an audio guide in English will cost 110.
A quick guide for travelers
This is the final part prepared by the project website articles about the features of ancient Egyptian temples. The previous two talked about them, as well as about. This time we will talk about the difficult fate of the temples of Ancient Egypt, and those of them that have been best preserved to this day will be briefly listed.
At the zenith of glory and power
The biographies of the ancient Egyptian “houses of God” developed differently both during the time of the pharaohs and after the time of their power remained in the distant past. Some temples fell into decay and disappeared even during the heyday of Egyptian statehood, others were destined to survive more than one foreign invasion and become mute witnesses to the final decline of the civilization that gave birth to them.
Without exception, all Egyptian kings tried to build and maintain temples in every possible way. Each pharaoh tried to surpass his predecessors in this, since it was believed that inattention to the cult would deprive him of the protection of the gods, and with it, power. Therefore, temple construction was constantly carried out in Ancient Egypt, and many important “houses of God,” having already been created, continued to be overgrown with more and more new buildings. Even many centuries after their founding, they had new pylons, open courtyards, obelisks, statues and decorations; temples acquired new land holdings.
In this case, it was often necessary to sacrifice the already existing “houses of the gods”, which were demolished, rebuilt, or simply used as quarries, turning them into a cheap source of building materials.
The clearest example of this is the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak. The first sanctuary in its place was built, it is believed, during the XII dynasty of the Middle Kingdom, but it became the most important temple of the country four centuries later, during the New Egyptian XVIII dynasty. After this, Karnak retained the status of the main sacred center of Egypt for more than a thousand years.
During this time, the temple was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded. Pharaoh after pharaoh enlarged the Karnak house of Amon, adding their own or remodeling parts already built by their predecessors. As a result, over more than two millennia of transformation, the temple acquired an incredible number of very different buildings (there were already ten pylons alone!), and within its huge temenos, over time, about 20 more smaller temples appeared.
On a lesser scale, but still in a similar way, things were the same with the houses of other ancient Egyptian gods. Many of them were also completed and rebuilt many times, sometimes completely from scratch.
View of the first, second and third pylons of the famous Great Temple of Amun at Karnak. © Cartu13 | Dreamstime.com – Karnak Ruins Photo Both when building new temples and when modifying old ones, Egyptian rulers often used the creations of previous pharaohs as a convenient source of building stone. Thus, during the construction of the third pylon of the same Great Temple of Amun in Karnak, several earlier buildings belonging to Senusret I, Amenhotep I and Thutmose IV, as well as the famous Queen Hatshepsut, were dismantled and used for building materials.
In an effort to associate their name with such a godly deed as the construction of temples, the ancient Egyptian kings not only did not shy away from destroying the works of their predecessors for this purpose, but also did not disdain to appropriate other people’s merits in this field. This usually happened when one or another pharaoh was unable to build anything significant himself, or in order to erase the memory of the deeds of some previous rulers. For this purpose, a kind of “hijacking” of already existing temples or parts thereof was undertaken, where, by order of the ruling pharaoh, all references to their real builders were destroyed, and the name of the “hijacker” king was written in their place.
This practice became so widespread by the end of the New Kingdom that the pharaohs, when building temples, had to cut cartouches with the hieroglyphs of their names a good ten centimeters deep, hoping that this would make it impossible for the next kings to use their merits.
Cartouche with the throne name of Ramesses III in his funeral temple in Medinet Habu. In the hope of stopping the usurpation of his temples by subsequent rulers, Ramesses III ordered inscriptions to be made on their walls and columns using the technique of very deep relief, often to a depth of more than 10 centimeters. However, it was not only loser pharaohs who “interrupted numbers” on other people’s architectural monuments. Even the greatest builder of Ancient Egypt, Ramses II, who built many of his own outstanding temples, did not hesitate to do this.
In general, until the end of the New Kingdom, the total number of ancient Egyptian “houses of god” steadily increased. Of course, there were also cases when, for one reason or another, some of them fell into disrepair and disappeared. For example, many temples were destroyed by natural forces: groundwater, Nile floods and earthquakes. However, in general, favored by the attention of the pharaohs and having large material resources, the temples flourished.
Radical changes in the destinies of the “houses of God” came with the end of Egyptian independence.
Twilight of the Ancient Egyptian Gods
After the fall of the New Kingdom, ancient Egypt fell on hard times. Since the 11th century BC. e. Egyptian history became a series of turmoil, fragmentation and foreign domination, punctuated only occasionally by short bursts of independence and national unity.
The vicissitudes of this turbulent period could not but affect the Egyptian temples. Thus, many “houses of God” were destroyed during the Assyrian and second Persian invasions. The Egyptians managed to partially compensate for these losses during the Sais Renaissance and the efforts of the XXX dynasty pharaoh Nectanebo I. Later, intensive temple construction was also carried out under the Ptolemies and the Romans, that is, after Egypt had finally lost its independence. However, the days of the greatness of the ancient Egyptian temples were already numbered.
With the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD. e. The pagan sanctuaries of Egypt were outlawed. They were desecrated by Christian fanatics-vandals, they were closed by imperial decrees, and they were used as quarries.
Temples built of limestone were especially hard hit (such were most of the “houses of God” north of Luxor; temples to the south were usually built of sandstone). In the 5th century, their destruction unfolded on an unprecedented scale: the limestone of ancient Egyptian monuments was burned into lime, which was used for the construction needs of the new regime. In addition, many temples were converted into churches.
The last functioning Egyptian “house of god” is believed to have been the temple of Isis on the island of Philae. It was forcibly closed by a Byzantine military expedition under the command of the eunuch general Narses around 535 AD. e.
Of course, Islam, which came to the country in the 7th century, did not bring any good news to the Egyptian temples. The destruction of temples continued, only instead of churches, mosques were now erected in them.
During the Byzantine period, several churches were built on the territory of the Luxor Temple of Amon. In the 13th century they were replaced by a mosque, which is still functioning. The number of ancient Egyptian temples declined even after the advent of modern Egyptology and interest in the history of Ancient Egypt. Thus, already at the beginning of the 19th century, during the industrialization undertaken by the Egyptian Pasha Muhammad Ali, a campaign was again launched to burn the surviving “houses of God” into lime, which destroyed many beautiful monuments of ancient Egyptian architecture.
As a result, to date in Egypt, in more or less complete form, only a small part of the former splendor of its ancient temple architecture can be seen. These are mainly those “houses of the gods” that were located far from the Nile and densely populated areas. There they were protected from destruction by people (especially if they were covered with sand) and the destructive floods of the great river. It is these temples that today represent the best-preserved examples of religious architecture of Ancient Egypt.
The most famous ancient Egyptian temples
In conclusion, here is a short annotated list of the most famous and best preserved ancient Egyptian temples. Each of them is a unique example of the architectural heritage of the country of the pharaohs and is worth visiting.
The list includes not only the “houses of the gods,” but also the so-called “houses of millions of years” - funeral temples built by the pharaohs for the eternal practice of their funeral cult. Despite the fact that, contrary to the wishes of their deified creators, services in such temples usually ended soon after the death of the pharaohs who built them, some of them are well preserved. During the New Kingdom, “houses of millions of years” were built, as a rule, on the model of “houses of God.”
Only a few poorly preserved temples have survived from the times of the Old Kingdom. The most famous and best preserved of them is the monumental granite temple of pharaoh Khafre, which was once part of the funerary complex of buildings at his pyramid in Giza.
The temples of the Middle Egyptian period have practically not survived. The most significant of the remaining ones is memorial temple of the XI dynasty pharaoh Mentuhotep II in Deir el-Bahri. Its ruins lie side by side with the famous temple of Queen Hatshepsut, for which it served as an architectural model.
To the left of the world-famous temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri is the poorly preserved and much older mortuary temple of Pharaoh Mentuhotep II. It was its unusual layout that the architects of the famous New Egyptian ruler took as a basis. Another example of Middle Egyptian temples is the so-called “ White Chapel", a small elegant temple of Pharaoh Senusret I, built by him in Thebes in honor of the 30th anniversary of his reign. During the New Kingdom, the chapel was dismantled for building materials and restored by archaeologists in the 20th century.
Incomparably more Egyptian temples have survived from the era of the New Kingdom. The most famous and outstanding of them is the huge Karnak temple complex in the capital of the New Egyptian state of Thebes (present-day Luxor). With an area of more than 100 hectares, it is the second largest (after the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia) temple complex in the world. Its main “house of god” is the Great Temple of Amun with a colossal hypostyle hall and ten pylons. In addition to him, the Karnak temple complex also includes the temples of Amun's wife, the goddess Mut, and their son Khonsu, as well as numerous sanctuaries of other deities and pharaohs.
Next to Karnak there is a closely related Luxor Temple of Amon. This is the southernmost of the “houses of god” on the eastern shore of the ancient Egyptian capital. It dates back one and a half thousand years of continuous construction - starting from the reign of the pharaohs of the 18th dynasty and ending with the era of Christianization of the Roman Empire.
Many remarkable monuments of Egyptian temple architecture are located on the western bank of Thebes. Here, not far from the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom built their tombs, their memorial temples were also erected, of which three are the most famous.
Firstly, this funeral temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri. Lying in ruins when excavations began in 1891, today this magnificent temple has been carefully restored and represents a true masterpiece of ancient Egyptian temple architecture. It belongs to a peculiar rock variety of “houses of millions of years”.
Not far south of it, in a place called Gurna, there is a rather poorly preserved funeral temple of Ramesses II. With the light hand of Champollion, who visited the temple in 1829, it is also known as Ramesseum. It was once an impressive structure, even by the standards of Ramesses II, but over the past millennia it has suffered significant damage.
Unfortunately, the mortuary temple of the great Ramesses II at Gurna (also known as the Ramesseum) is quite poorly preserved. To the southwest of the Ramesseum is located funeral temple of RamessesIII in Medinet Habu– one of the most impressive religious buildings of Ancient Egypt. The building of this temple for the most part escaped destruction (except for the destruction of temple statues and other similar “little things” by Christian vandals) and was perfectly preserved.
In addition to this famous trinity, in the Theban necropolis there is another remarkable “house of millions of years” - memorial temple of SetiI in Qurna. Situated near the Ramesseum and badly damaged, it is almost unknown to tourists today. However, this temple was once very important - it was here that the statue of the god Amun made its first stop when it was transported to the west bank of the Nile during the Beautiful Festival of the Valley.
Much better preserved (and therefore more popular with travelers) mortuary temple of Seti I at Abydos. It was dedicated to Osiris, Isis and Pharaoh Seti I himself, during whose lifetime the temple was never completed. The construction had to be completed by his son, the famous Ramesses II. One of the main features of this temple is the so-called Abydos list of kings - a list of all the pharaohs who ruled in Egypt from the legendary Mendes to Seti I himself, carved on its walls.
The magnificent monuments of New Egyptian architecture are rock memorial temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari in Abu Simbel. They are located in the south of modern Egypt, in historical Nubia, and are famous not only for their outstanding artistic merits, but also for the recent history of their salvation.
Due to the construction of the Aswan Dam, which began in 1960, the temples at Abu Simbel (like many other archaeological sites in southern Egypt) found themselves in the zone of future flooding. In 1964 - 1968, both the large and small (pictured) temples of Abu Simbel were cut into blocks and moved to a higher place. The best-preserved Egyptian temples date back to the last millennium of the existence of Ancient Egypt - the Greco-Roman period of its history (IV century BC - VI century AD).
One of them is located 60 km north of Luxor Temple of Hathor at Dendera. It is unusual in that it does not have a pylon. But he has two (and unique) mammisia at once. The first was built by Pharaoh Nectanebo I and is the oldest surviving “birth house”. The second, the most developed from an architectural point of view of all known temples of this kind, dates back to Roman times.
Built in the 3rd century BC, it is dedicated to the same goddess as in Dendera. e. Temple of Hathor at Deir el-Medina. It is quite small, but it has remained relatively intact, including the temple fence made of raw brick.
One of the latest ancient Egyptian “houses of god” - Temple of Khnum in Esna– located 55 km south of Luxor. It began to be built under Ptolemy VI, and the Romans had to finish the work. Today it is located right in the middle of a modern city. Of the entire temple, only the hypostyle hall remains, but it is in good condition.
Further south, halfway between Luxor and Aswan is Temple of Horus in Edfu. Today, it is the best-preserved Egyptian “house of god” and is therefore extremely popular among tourists. The temple took 180 years to build, from 237 to 57 BC. e., and was completed by Ptolemy XII, the father of the famous Queen Cleopatra. The oldest element of the temple is the four-meter granite naos of Pharaoh Nectanebo II, which inherited the current Ptolemaic sanctuary from the earlier “house of god” that stood on this site.
Even further south is a unique “double” Temple of Sebek and Horus the Elder in Kom Ombo. It is curious because it has an unusual “mirror” plan: the temple is divided into two absolutely identical halves, the first of which is dedicated to the crocodile-headed god Sebek, and the second to one of the incarnations of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Several temples were once located on the island of Elephantine, strategically located near the ancient southern border of Egypt (opposite modern Aswan). Two of them - small temples of Thutmose III and Amenhotep III - remained virtually untouched until the beginning of the 19th century. Unfortunately, in 1822 they were barbarically destroyed by order of local authorities (they were burned with lime). Today, only granite gates from the Hellenistic period from temple of god Khnum. Also on the island, archaeologists have partially restored Temple of the Goddess Satet(the wife of Khnum), who owned the largest nilometer in Egypt, which was used until the 19th century.
Unlike Elephantine, where the oldest archaeological finds date back to the early dynastic period, the temples located a little south of the island Philae appeared relatively late. It became an important religious center only during the reign of the Ptolemies. It is from this time that the perfectly preserved Temple of Isis on the island of Philae, which is considered the most beautiful of all existing Egyptian “houses of god”.
The first pylon and entrance to the temple of Isis on the island of Philae. Climbing further south along the Nile, you can see Temple of Mandulis in Kalabsha. Dedicated to a local Nubian deity, whom the Egyptians identified with their Horus, it was built during the reign of the last Ptolemies and completed under Emperor Augustus. Initially, the temple was located on the banks of the Nile in a place called Bab el-Kalabsha, 50 km south of the current Aswan Dam. In 1962 - 1963, it was disassembled into 13 thousand parts and then transported and recreated on a new place - the island of New Kalabsha.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that as a result of the grandiose international campaign of 1959–1980 to save the architectural monuments of Nubia from flooding, four small ancient Egyptian temples ended up outside Egypt. In gratitude for their assistance in archaeological work, they were donated to Spain ( Temple of Amun of Debod, now stands in Madrid), the Netherlands ( Temple of Emperor Octavian Augustus of Taffa, now in State Museum Antiquities Leiden), USA ( Temple of Isis from Dendur, now in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art) and Italy ( rock temple of Thutmose III from Hellesia, which was transported to the Egyptian Museum of Turin).
It is impossible to overestimate the degree of luck that all the temples listed above needed to survive to this day. Over the past millennia, they have been lucky enough to survive many natural adversities and foreign invasions. But what’s most amazing is that they somehow miraculously bypassed the long centuries of religious intolerance, which hung over them like the sword of Damocles ever since the voices of the priests fell silent forever in them and the smoke of the last incense melted away.
Fortunately, now for the first time in almost two thousand years, the temples of Ancient Egypt are beyond the threat of destruction. They are internationally recognized as an integral part of the cultural treasury of humanity. Many ancient Egyptian temples are included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.
Of course, the ceremonial services within their walls have sunk into oblivion forever. Former rituals have been replaced by the noisy tourist bustle, and the only obligatory rituals have become camera and souvenir efforts. But even now, wandering through the columned halls and porticos of the ancient Egyptian “houses of God,” you can still catch an echo of their former purpose. As before, they proudly look at the human chaos reigning around them, and no matter what, they continue to remain strongholds of maat - the eternal order of the universe.
Wat Rong Khun attracts tourists from all over the world. Everyone who comes to Thailand strives to visit this temple, which has become the national pride of this country.
The White Temple is an unconventional Buddhist religious building located in Chiang Rai province, 13 km from the city of the same name, which carefully preserves Thai traditions passed down from generation to generation and respects the cultural heritage of this country. Despite its youth, the White Temple represents traditional Thai art and the national culture of the local population.
The construction of the temple building began in 1997, but it is too early to talk about the completion of construction work. The famous Thai artist Halermhai Kositpipat, the creator of the temple complex, believes that construction of the temple will continue for about 90 years. He is well aware that he will not have to see the final result of his work, but firmly believes in the continuation of his work by his students.
Halermhai Kositpipat long nurtured the idea of creating the White Temple and saved money for 20 years to realize his dream, selling the paintings he created. It is noteworthy that the artist does not accept sponsorship, citing his own creative freedom as the reason for his refusal. He strives to embody his own plans and ideas, not imposed by anyone, in the construction of the temple complex.
Create grandiose building The temple is helped by Halermhai's brother Kositpipat, who is responsible for engineering work, as well as a whole army of their common like-minded people. Obsessed with the idea of creating a unique temple, the artist is confident that Wat Rong Khun will become a real creation for him, which will perpetuate his name for a long time.
Description
The white temple, covered with sparkling mirror mosaics, symbolizes Paradise, as well as the purity, wisdom and purity of the Buddha. By building Wat Rong Khun, Halermhai primarily sought to create a center for meditation and training for people involved in Dharma practices, as well as to give everyone the opportunity to learn the wisdom of the Buddha.
However, the unusual white color of the walls sparkling with mirror mosaics and the amazing bewitching beauty of the White Temple attracted not only admirers of the Buddha’s teachings to it. Tourists from many countries flocked to the amazing temple.
Visiting rules
A visit to Wat Rong Khun is associated with certain conventions, the observance of which is mandatory for everyone without exception. Such conditions include legs covered with long clothes and a ban on photography and video equipment. So it is better not to try to enter the temple in short dresses or shorts. This does not mean that lovers of short skirts will face reprisals here.
Just at the entrance you will be offered clothes that cover your bare legs. Signs at the entrance to the building of this temple warn visitors that they are allowed to enter here not only with their legs covered, but also without cameras and video cameras, since photography and video filming inside the temple is strictly prohibited.
Path to the temple
Having dressed according to the requirements, visitors can immediately get inside the temple. First of all, it is necessary to overcome the gates of Hell, as well as the path of doubt and suffering. Along this path, on both sides, statues of human hands of sinners suffering from thirst and begging for deliverance from hellish torments reach out to walking tourists.
The huge mouth of this demon is depicted in the shape of a large circle, which personifies the insignificance of both the human mind and the sinners suffering in hell. The bridge over the pond, located behind the mouth of Rahu, symbolizes the transition from one world of an endless cycle of rebirth to another, in which the Buddha's Abode is located.
On the approach to the temple, visitors encounter many different figures and sculptures. The roof of the temple building is decorated with figures of animals embodying the elements of nature, and on the territory of the temple there are sculptural images of mythical creatures and dragons.
A large number of different fountains and small ponds with amazingly beautiful fish swimming in them evoke genuine admiration among tourists. Sculptures of fairy-tale princesses by the pond, statues of Buddha frozen in the lotus position, sculptures of animals and mythical heroes are fraught with deep meaning, which not everyone can unravel.
Alabaster was used to make the sculptures, as for the temple walls, after which the walls and sculptures were painted white. The territory of the complex, which includes the White Temple itself, an art gallery and a public toilet sparkling in gold, occupies approximately three hectares of area. In addition to the existing structures, it is planned to construct 9 more buildings, including a monastery and a museum, a pavilion and a pagoda, a chapel and a preaching hall, as well as rest rooms.
Interior of the White Temple
Of course, what most visitors are interested in is the interior of the White Temple.
The interior walls of the temple amaze visitors with golden hues. In the temple building there is an image of a golden flame, in the center of which there is an altar of Buddha. On each of the interior walls there are images of animals, symbolizing the main elements of the surrounding world: fire, water, wind and earth. An elephant standing on the firmament of the earth is the personification of the earthly element, the swan's wings represent the wind, the lion's mane symbolizes the flame of fire, and the naga symbolizes the water element.
Two statues of Buddha and his huge image are an important part of the interior decoration of the temple. One of the walls was painted by the creator of the temple with scenes of the endless struggle between evil and good forces. However, instead of mythical heroes personifying good and evil, the artist depicted modern heroes in the interpretation of Buddhism.
Here you can see the demon Maru, who makes it difficult for Buddha to find ways to enlighten himself, as well as Batman, Superman, Neo and Star Wars heroes fighting monsters and robots that are out of human control. The side walls depict the events of September 11, 2004, when a suicide bomber's plane crashed into the towers of the Twin Buildings. Another wall depicts the catastrophic destruction of our planet.
It should be noted that visiting the temple is completely free. Each tourist, if desired, can contribute any amount for the construction of this unique structure. By purchasing paintings by Halermhai Kositpipat, you can also contribute to the construction of this modern Buddhist complex.
However, the paintings are quite expensive, and not every temple visitor can afford such purchases. Therefore, many tourists limit themselves to souvenirs and postcards, which also provides an opportunity to participate in replenishing resources to continue the construction of this original temple complex.
Perhaps the most unique temple in the Kingdom of Thailand, the White Temple of Wat Rong Khun is located in the province of Chiang Rai (Chiang Rai), thanks to the imagination of the Thai artist Chalermchai Kozitpipat. A deeply devout Buddhist famous for his religious paintings, Chalermchai began designing the building in 1997. However, Wat Rong Khun temple appearance is not a traditional temple.
The artist reinterprets Thai art to present it to the modern world. When you walk through the temple grounds, you find yourself in a surreal vision of an object of Buddhist teaching. Superheroes, movie stars and cartoons become part of temple murals depicting traditional Buddhist motifs. Fantastic sculptures and architecture form the basis of the overall landscape.
In May 2014, an earthquake caused serious damage to the temple. Initially, the artist stated that he had no plans to restore the building. But later it was decided to reconstruct it to its original form. This unique architectural work still impresses tourists from all over the world.
White Temple Concept
Wat Rong Khun White Temple in Thailand is a complex, detailed composition where every element carries deep religious symbolism. Although, according to the Thais, not every meaning of the details is clear to them. Refusing the expected gold, Chalermchai decided to build a temple in white alabaster, symbolizing the purity of the Great Buddha. Mirrors built into the structure reflect light representing the Buddha's wisdom sparkling through the Earth and the Universe.
Much of the temple's message relates to the theme of desire, greed, passion and the pursuit of the sublime through Buddhist teachings. To reach the main temple hall, one must cross a threshold guarded by demons and cross a bridge over an ocean of ghostly hands, rising from the cycle of death to rebirth. The temple building symbolizes the kingdom of Buddha and goes back to the state of nirvana.
What to see in the temple?
Thailand White Temple is still in the process of reconstruction. All details of the white ubosot, the main temple hall, have recently been completed. A number of other buildings are at various stages of construction and finishing. It is expected that full recovery it will take decades.
- Definitely visit the shimmering White Temple. Walk through the building to see its sculptures and fish pool.
- Look at the golden toilet. Remember how Chalermchai felt that white was a more appropriate color for the temple? He specifically chose gold for the toilet, sending it to the modern world. Perhaps this is the most luxurious toilet not only in the kingdom, but in the whole world. Apparently this is a commentary on how people worship worldly desires and what their real value is.
- Visit an art gallery. This relatively small building contains a number of the artist's masterpieces. You can also purchase high quality prints, books and cards upon request.
How to get to the White Temple from Pattaya
Wat Rong Khun is located 13 km from the city of Chiang Rai (Chiang Rai). You can get there by your own transport, heading south towards Chiang Rai. If you leave from Chiang Rai, you can take a bus or minibus from 6 or 7 of the old bus station (Chiang Rai has two main stations - old and new). Ask the bus driver to let you off near Wat Rong Khun.
You can get from Pattaya to the city of Chiang Rai by car, it will take about 1.5 hours, the ticket price will cost 1,650 baht.
You can also get there by bus. Buses depart from Pattaya Central Station every day; a ticket costs 700-800 baht one way, but the journey takes 12-13 hours. In addition to regular buses, there are also luxury buses, so ticket prices vary. The bus is perhaps the cheapest option for traveling around the temple. How are the roads in Thailand? good trip the bus will be comfortable.
By bus is 20 baht. Buses and minibuses for the journey back to Chiang Rai depart from the front of the police station. Most routes will be on the way into the city. You can also take a tuk tuk. If you make an agreement with the driver, he can wait and pick you up on the way back.
Temple visiting time
Wat Rong Khun is open every day from 6:30 to 18:00. The art gallery is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:30. On Saturdays and holidays the gallery is open from 8:00 to 18:00. How long can you spend time in the temple? Plan for approximately 1 hour visit. Visitors typically spend between 45 minutes and 2 hours at the temple, depending on how quickly they explore, how much they relax on the grounds, and how much time they spend in the art gallery and shopping stalls.
Due to the white surface, reflective materials, and generally open, unpolished layout of the temple, the temple can be hot and bright on warm sunny days. To avoid the heat, it is better to go there early in the morning, or wear things made of natural fabric, a hat, and take with you sunscreen, water.
While the building contains a number of creepy images, the temple complex is still bright and cheerful, and you will be surrounded by many other visitors in good spirits. Many children visit it. While young children may find some of the details scary, the overall atmosphere of the temple is upbeat and full of beauty.
Rules for visiting Wat Rong Khun
The main purpose of traveling to Wat Rong Khun is to worship in a holy place. The White Temple is honorable sacred place for Thais and a place for prayer and ritual. Many Thai tourists visit the temple to see his work. At the same time, they respect it for its religious significance.
Be respectful of the Buddha images and be mindful of your behavior in the main temple hall. Photography is allowed throughout the territory, but not within the walls of the White Temple. Touching sculptures and works of art is not allowed, and remind your children not to do this.
Casual dress is permitted to enter the premises. As with all temples, avoid revealing clothing. It is not recommended to wear clothes such as short skirts or shorts for women. Short sleeves are good, but tank tops are not suitable for men or women. It is recommended to remove your shoes before entering the White Temple.
Expenses for visiting the temple
Entrance to the temple is free for everyone. Due to the disrespectful behavior of some foreign tourists, Wat Rong Khun recently developed a policy requiring guidelines for foreign tourists visiting the main temple building. However, the policy is not always enforced. If you would like to order a guide, there are his coordinates at the temple. The fee for a tour with a knowledgeable guide is within a few hundred baht. If you enter the grounds without guidance, please treat the temple with respect and refrain from taking photographs.
