The Blue Temple Chiang Rai in Thailand, known as Wat Rong Suea Ten, is a truly unique Buddhist temple you don’t want to miss. If you’re visiting Thailand for the first time, you should make sure to include Chiang Rai and its temples in your itinerary.
The Blue Temple is one of the main attractions in Chiang Rai, yet it’s not that crowded. The temple is gaining more popularity and now it’s the best time to visit.
Therefore, you can enjoy the temple to the fullest. The blue color is symbolically associated with purity, wisdom, and also with the lack of materialism that Buddhists aspire to.
The Blue Temple Chiang Rai is without a doubt one of the most beautiful temples I’ve ever seen. This place will for sure steal your heart as it happened to us.
Blue Temple Chiang Rai Entrance fee and Opening hours
Entrance fee: there isn’t entrance fee, good right?
Opening hours: every day from 7am to 8pm
Where to stay in Chiang Rai
The best area to stay is near the bus station or around clock tower. If you’re looking for more budget friendly options, you’ll likely find them a bit further from the town centre.
Best hotels in Chiang Rai
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About The Blue Temple Chiang Rai
Wat Rong Suea Ten or Blue Temple is located in the district of Rimkok in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It’s only 3 kilometers south of the city center of Chiang Rai. Therefore it’s a perfect location for a quick visit during your stay in Chiang Rai.
The temple was finished in 2016. This is one of the reasons why it’s not very popular among tourists, unlike White Temple. The Blue Temple was designed by an artist named Putha Kabkaew.
The entrance to the temple’s area is marked by two big blue statues followed by a beautiful fountain. Another two mythical creaters (nagas) are guarding entrance to the temple. Among Buddhists, Nagas are magical serpents that play a role between the divine and the mortal.
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The Blue Temple is indeed fascinating mix of traditional Buddhist values and classic Thai architecture. We were absolutely amazed when we walked inside the temple.
Don’t forget to also go behind the temple. There you’ll find white Buddha statue that symbolizes calmness and wisdom.
Interior of The Blue Temple Chiang Rai
Interior of Blue Temple Chiang Rai is absolutely stunning. It will certainly blow your mind away. Vibrant blue color is all over the walls and roof. But it’s not only blue color but also beutiful paitings that are covering whole temple.
As first i would like to point out that you are allowed to take as many pictures as you want inside the temple. Just don’t disturb locals during prayers because it’s still a holy place. In the back of the Blue Temple there is a statue of sitting Buddha.
Unique colors and paintings makes you feel like you’re in another world. In fact, we were just standing in the middle for couple of minutes admiring all the small details. Do the same, try not to rush and enjoy every piece of art.
Read next: Don’t forget to visit Wat Huay Pla Kang, which is another amazing temple in Chiang Rai.
How to get to Blue Temple
Just as we recommend renting a motorcycle in Chiang Mai to explore the temples, it’s also a great choice in Chiang Rai.
There are few bike rentals around Chiang Rai. The cheapest bikes start at around 250TBH (2023). We rent our bikes from B-rider and highly recommend their services.
Another option is to hire a grab. You can go with grab scooter which is perfect for one person or you can go with grab car which is better if you are in a group of two or more people.
Blue Temple Chiang Rai dress code
Don’t forget to always dress respectfully when entering any temple in Thailand. You should cover your shoulders and knees. It’s good to have a scarf while traveling around Thailand.
You’ll also have to take your shoes off when entering the Blue Temple. Don’t worry, nobody will steal them from you.
Best tours in Chiang Rai
The Blue temple – conclusion
The Blue temple in Chiang Rai is a fascinating piece of architecture where you can get closer to Thai culture, history and religion. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Northern Thailand. We hope you’ll add the Blue temple to your Thailand itinerary. Have a good trip!
