Taking the public bus to the White temple

The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) is located 13km from Chiang Rai center, so you’re going to need some sort of transportation to get there. The distance and busy roads don’t make the bicycle a viable option, and the 300 TBH charged by taxis and songthaews is a bit too much.

That makes the public bus the cheapest alternative and more convenient transport.

Catching the Public Bus to the White Temple

We walked to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 (in the city center, near the night bazaar) to find a bus that could take us to our destination. As we arrived at the bus station, we came across a rickety old blue bus with a tarpaulin saying “White Temple” on it.

…Well, that was easy!

The big banner and the ticket revisor kept confirming that was the “only bus to the White Temple” which made us a bit suspicious. But after seeing several locals buy the ticket at the station kiosk and getting on the bus, we took a chance and did the same.

Bus timetable to the White Temple (2020)

Mornings: 06:15 – 07:10 – 08:10 – 09:10.
From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM there’s a bus every 30 minutes.
Afternoons: 14:35 – 15:10 – 15:45 – 16:20 – 17:00

Cost: 20 Baht, one-way trip.
Duration: 20 minutes.

The bus was old and worn out but filled with character, and definitely worth the trip! From the weird proportions and rickety noises to the dashboard decorations made of Buddhist memorabilia, and every happy meal toy under the sun.

The revisor lady from before proved to be quite helpful by waving at us at the nearest bus stop to the White Temple: a generic spot just off Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road), that we wouldn’t be able to identify on our own.

On the opposite side of the road, a few meters ahead were the grounds of the Wat Rong Khun.

White Temple info

Opening hours: from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closes at mid-day for an hour.
Entrance fee: Foreigners pay 100 Baht.  Admission for Thai nationals is free. 

Dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered, and as always, shoes must be taken off before entering the main temple.

You’ll need at a minimum, an hour for the visit.

Understanding the Art and History of the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

If you’re traveling around Thailand and are tired of visiting temples by now, suck it up and don’t miss this one — it’s one of Chiang Rai’s most visited attractions for a reason!

The lavishly decorated temple is unlike anything we saw around Thailand. Every element was consciously designed by the artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and is full of symbolism.

On the bridge leading to the temple, you’ll find depictions of the anger, suffering, and worldly temptations that you’ll have to leave behind to find happiness.

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The temple is white to represent the purity of the Buddha, and the glistening intricate mirror work embedded on the plaster is there to reflect his wisdom to the world.

The interior of the main temple is all gold (and much smaller than it appears to be). On the back walls are paintings of pop culture reference like Hello Kitty, Spider-Man, the Terminator, and George W. Bush. These represent life without faith, they’re the false heroes incapable of saving the world from war and destruction.

On the walls in the front, where the altar is, you’ll see paintings of humans flying freely through the clouds. These represent the people who followed Buddha’s teachings and achieved peace. Sorry for the lack of pictures, but taking photos is not allowed in the main building.

The site grounds

On the outside of the temple is a canopy of prayer plates and by walking under it you’ll reach the meditation hall, the famous golden restroom, the art gallery, and the museum. 

The museum is dedicated to the works of Chalermchai Kositpipat: many of his works are a satirical commentary on international politics and the destruction of the planet.

The temple site is still under construction and expanding. Only by 2070, the artist complete vision will be finished.

In front of Wat Rong Khun is a small area with cafes, restaurants, and shops.

About the Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat

Bus back to Chiang Rai

Head back towards the highway where you got off the bus and find a wooden pergola/ bus stop on the opposite side. Hail to the first bus you see (every half hour-ish). The trip back is a further 20 THB.

If you have any questions or new info to share about buses to the White Temple, leave it in the comments below.