The Golden Triangle of Thailand, the tripoint border of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The Golden Triangle of Thailand is popular due to its scenic beauty, as well as for the many ancient temples and ruins prevalent in this area. Therefore, this area gives tourists an opportunity to absorb the natural beauty of Thailand, while also witnessing its grand heritage. A resort that offers you a great Chiang Rai Travel Guide as well as tranquil accommodation is Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort.
While travelling within Chiang Rai, you might come across a fascinatingly designed temple with whitewashed walls and towering spires; this is the White Temple of Chiang Rai. One would expect the temple to be a traditional Southeast Asian Buddhist temple, but the White Temple is nothing of the sort. This temple is full of contemporary architectural features, sculptures of modern fictional characters, and present-day types of art, making the White Temple one of the most unique temples in the whole of Thailand.
Located 12km south of the Chiang Rai city centre, the White Temple is formally known as Wat Rong Khun. The temple was built in 1997 and designed by Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat. The architecture is quite unlike any traditional temple in this region, as it seems more like a museum of contemporary art. There are pictures of Superman, creatures resembling those in the Predator movies, Neo from the Matrix trilogy, and even images of George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden in the eyes of a mural of the Devil! But don’t let these contemporary works of art let you miss out on the subtle messages interwoven in the art. Buddhist teachings are prevalent in many of these sculptures and paintings, so make sure you take a second look at all the art. With its unique use of shards of mirrors, predominant use of the color white, and highlights such as the Sea of Hands and the Foot Bridge, a visit to the White Temple is fully worth your while.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
