White Temple

Wat Rong Khun, better known as “the White Temple”, is one of the most famous temples in Thailand. It is a unique temple that stands out given its completely white color and the use of pieces of glass in the plaster which creates a sparkling effect under the sun. The white color signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolizes the Buddha’s wisdom and the Dhamma, the Buddhist teachings.

The modern temple is privately owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a Thai visual artist from Chiang Rai. When the original Wat Rong Khun temple was in bad need of repair in the late 20th century, Chalermchai Kositpipat decided to completely rebuild the temple and fund the project with his own money. He designed, constructed, and opened the new Wat Rong Khun temple to public in 1997.