With its lush countryside, rolling hills, and centuries-old Theravada temples at every turn, northern Thailand has long been a hot spot destination for tourists and spiritual pilgrims alike. One such temple, on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, sat dilapidated for decades until local visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat decided to restore it as a passion project in 1997. The result? Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple: a one-of-a-kind creation that stands out even amongst Thailand’s quirkiest religious sites.
From afar, the temple is striking for its unusual color, which Kositpipat thought would emphasize the purity of the Buddha more than the traditional gold. Covered in thousands of reflective glass pieces, the walls shimmer in the sunlight. But approaching the temple, one quickly realizes that the heavenly appearance is merely a facade: Nagas, fierce deities, and a gigantic set of horns emerging from the ground provide a more hellish welcoming. Below the main bridge, the desperate hands of those stuck in the hell realms reach out for help. Inside the building, sprawling, fiery murals depict the likes of Po (from Kung Fu Panda), Spider-Man, Keanu Reeves à la The Matrix, and an Angry Bird flying toward the Twin Towers. “Both kids and adults believe in superheroes that protect the world.” Kositpipat told Native Explorer about the murals’ deeper meaning: “None of it is real. Don’t believe in it, believe in yourself.”
Beneath Wat Rong Khun’s unconventional design lies a heavy-handed message: Only you can save yourself by following the Buddhist path—and if you don’t, you’d better be prepared to face the consequences.
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