Wat Rong Khun also known as the White Temple, is one of the most extravagant and easily recognizable temples in Thailand. Located just outside the city, it attracts a large number of visitors making it one of the most visited attractions in Chiang Rai. The uniqueness of Wat Rong Khun is due to its white color and the small mirrors in the plaster that sparkle in the sunlight. The color white symbolizes the purity of the Buddha, while the mirrors symbolize the wisdom of the Buddha. The work was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous Thai artist. Approaching it, it is enough to be immediately catapulted into the world of this author, who gives us a surreal vision of Buddhist teachings, revisited in a modern way and proposed to the visitor, Thai or foreign, in a very original way. Construction began in 1997, but the date of completion is still unclear; it is said to be 2070. To reach the central building (Ubosot) one must cross a bridge over the pleading hands of souls in pain who are sinking into the underworld; this is the “bridge of the cycle of rebirths (or reincarnations) and symbolizes that the road to happiness overcomes temptation, greed and desire. After crossing the bridge, the visitor arrives at the “gate of heaven”. Two huge white “nagas” accompany the faithful towards the temple, inside which, besides the images of Buddha, one can admire rather unusual frescoes.
