Heaven and Hell: Chiang Rai’s White Temple and Black House

Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple)

Wat Rong Khun (or the white temple) in Chiang Rai, Thailand is no ordinary temple. At first glance Wat Rong Khun reminds me of something out of a winter wonderland fairytale as the white, unbelievably elaborate, creation glitters in the bright sunlight.

There is something mystical but also slightly spooky about this white temple. It is adorned in white with extravagant detail. The little mirror mosaic-like pieces that are studded over the temple reflect the sunlight like glittering porcelain, or the icing on an extremely decorative Christmas cake.

Wat Rong Khun is Thailand’s answer to Gaudi’s Sagarada Familia in Barcelona. The talented and creative artist Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat, along with a team of over 80, have dedicated their life’s work to create the most beautiful temple in the world that will showcase modern Thai Buddhist arts.

Construction of the contemporary, unconventional white temple began in 1996 and is expected to take nearly 100 years to complete. It won’t be finished until about 60 – 80 years after the artist’s death, but he is still impressively dedicating his life to it.

When completed the White Temple will entail 9 different buildings and he does not accept any donations from the government as he doesn’t want his art to be politically influenced by anyone else.

He has grand ambitions as he wants the White Temple to become an international tourist attraction to rival India’s Taj Mahal and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

Entering The Temple

Currently just the main temple is complete along with a collection of sculptures of mythical creatures adorning the grounds and the most beautiful golden toilets.

To get into the temple you must first cross a bridge over hundreds of grabbing, skeletal hands
An extravagant bridge leads you into the temple; passing over grabbing hands, through mammoth tusks and past angry looking mythical creatures. Some of the sculptures are a little spooky looking.

The paintings, sculptures and creations contain meanings and moral teachings. Once inside the white temple, the back wall of the temple features a painting of a large, angry, demon like face. In it’s mouth are images that include 9/11, superheros, rockets, guns, George Bush and Osama Bin Laden.

From the demon’s face (the mara) the images gradually turn into people flying on mystical creatures towards the front of the temple where a serene buddha stands surrounded by gold and yellow that contrasts the angry red of the demon.

It is meant to represent the final struggle between Lord Buddha and the Mara (demon) to combat evil thoughts and obtain enlightenment and freedom from immoral thoughts.

The meaning of the superheros and 9/11 mural is that we can’t rely on superheros to save our world.
The weapons and demon’s armies represent humankind’s unwholesome thoughts and the moral is to practice meditation to feel peace and happiness.

I think passing through the White Temple is meant to represent coming from the hell like world that we live in to the heavenly state of enlightenment and peace.

It is free to visit the White Temple and I enjoyed it so much I went three times in total! Everytime I visited I saw something that I hadn’t noticed before. I could spend hours gazing at this unique and other worldly building and trying to discover and understand the complex meanings behind the elaborate sculpture work.

Baandam Museum (The Black House)

In contrast, The Black House to the north of Chiang Rai is a very different piece of architecture. An abundance of dark wood and animal bones makes this place feel quite weird and spooky.

Baandam Museum or the Black House is not actually a temple but a work of art with similar architectural styles to Thai temples.

It is created by Thai artist Thawan Duchanee and consists of one main, huge, black temple like building and a strange assortment of nearly 40 other small buildings, scattered across the grounds in various unique styles and designs made from dark wood and other materials.

The buildings are decorated by numerous animal bones including more buffalo skulls, horns, deer antlers, animal skins and bones than I ever seen before in one place.

This place is very odd, I didn’t quite understand the meaning behind it and for an animal lover it is a bit disconcerting to see so many animal bones. But it certainly makes for an interesting visit and an alternative to temple hopping when in Thailand.

More examples of weird things you can see at the Black House, yes that is a building that looks half pig half submarine!

Both these buildings contain extraordinary and unique architecture and fascinating artists devotion.

Combining the White Temple and the Black House feels like visiting heaven and hell in one day.