The free entry promotion is over – Foreign visitors to Chiang Rai’s White Temple now have to pay

▲White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. (Photo /Xiao Sheng)

By Rita

According to Lonely Planet, the renowned White Temple in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, has started charging international visitors an entrance fee. Travelers planning to visit soon should purchase tickets in advance.

This new regulation applies only to international visitors—Thai citizens can still enjoy free access to the art exhibitions inside the temple. Although foreign visitors will be charged, the fee is actually quite low, around NT$50, and they will also receive a guidebook and a bag.

The main reason behind this change is that the artist who originally supported the temple hopes it can have an independent source of income to cover expenses after his retirement. The White Temple, which previously relied mainly on book and photo sales for revenue, will begin charging fees starting October 3, ending its 19-year policy of free entry.

The White Temple, also known as Wat Rong Khun, Ling Guang Temple, Wa Long Kun, or commonly referred to as the White Pagoda, is a famous temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Thai artist Chaloemchai Khositphiphat and construction began in 1998. Unlike traditional Thai temples, this one features a stark white base adorned with silver mirror inlays that reflect dazzling light, symbolizing the purity of the Buddha and the illumination of Buddhist wisdom across the universe.

White Temple Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
Location: 13 km south of downtown Chiang Rai, roughly on Phathon Yothin Rd. (Route 1)


▲White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. (Photo /Xiao Sheng)