Muang Boran, translated "Ancient City", is a museum park in Thailand located in Samut Prakan, just outside of Bangkok. This is not an amusement park, but instead is a real-life open-air museum where the most famous monuments of the country are replicated.
Thailand: Chiang Rai – The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)
The Blue Temple is immediately recognizable for its brilliant shade of rich sapphire. The temple walls, roof, and surrounding statues are all covered in this gorgeous colour, an unusual decorative choice in a country where most temples are made of gold.
Our second stop of the day after the White Temple was another temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten, better known as the Blue Temple. This place, whilst busy had a more genuine feel to it! The temple walls, roof, and surrounding statues are all covered in this gorgeous hue, an unusual decorative choice in a country where most temples are made of gold. This colour is symbolically associated with purity, wisdom, and the lack of materialism that Buddhists aspire to.
The Blue Temple is known in Thai as “Wat Rong Suea Ten”, or “Temple of the Dancing Tiger”. Another ancient temple once stood here, and tigers are said to have roamed freely over the grounds when it was abandoned nearly a century ago. The Blue Temple as it exists today is brand new by comparison. The local village decided to rebuild the temple in 1996 and began the project in 2005. The Blue Temple was designed by Putha Kabkaew, a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat, who created the White Temple we’d just visited. Construction was officially completed in 2016, but The Blue Temple is still considered a work in progress.
The main building is the viharn, the assembly hall. Huge Naga snakes guard its entrance.
The richly adorned gable is in the traditional Lanna style with intricate floral motifs.
At the back of the building stands a large white image of the Buddha. Here there is also a blue and gold chedi on a square blue base.
Around the grounds are a bell tower and several white images of the Buddha seated on blue pedestals.
The building’s interior was stunning. There were two rows of pillars adorned with intricate motifs. Paintings on the walls depict scenes from the life of the Buddha. On the ceilings are ornaments in sapphire blue and violet with inlays of gold. On the back wall seated on a pedestal is a large white Buddha image of subduing Mara or Calling the Earth to witness mudra.
Planning your visit to the Blue Temple
From Chiang Rai, the easiest way is by motorbike, taxi or tuk tuk, and the best way to explore all the landmarks around is to hire a guide to drive you and give you valuable information.
We joined a group tour organised through our hotel which visited most of the main tourist sites around Chiang Rai.
Other places to visit while in Chiang Rai
1. THE WHITE TEMPLE – WAT RONG KHUN
Wat Rong Khun, better known as “the White Temple”, is one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand. was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous Thai visual artist. To date, the temple is not finished. Eventually, there will be nine buildings.
2. BLACK HOUSE (BAAN DAM) MUSEUM
Often referred to as the “Black Temple”, this building is not really a temple at all. It’s actually more like an art museum and studio. Its construction is a blend of traditional Thai architecture with a contemporary and unorthodox flair.
3. GOLDEN TRIANGLE
The Golden Triangle is where the Mekong River, the border between Thailand and Laos, meets the Ruak River, the border between Thailand and Myanmar. In the past, the Golden Triangle was the world’s largest source of drug trafficking.
The best time to visit Chiang Rai
Marked by its geographical position in Northern Thailand, the climate in Chiang Rai resonates with the Koppen climate classification of Aw, also referred to as Tropical Wet and Dry or Savanna. The city experiences altering spells of wet and dry spells with a high temperature difference across the year. Monthly average day temperatures range from 27.2°C (81°F) in December to a peak of 34.8°C (94.6°F) in April.
Sharp fluctuations in precipitation levels can be observed over the course of the year. Substantial rainfall initiates in April, peaks during August with 358mm (14.09″) and finally ends around November. The annual dry period begins from December and extends until March, with significantly lower rainfall ranging from 8mm (0.31″) to 28mm (1.1″). These rainfall patterns hence divide the year into clear wet and dry seasons.
The best time to visit Chiang Rai
With regard to preferred weather conditions for visitor comfort, the best time to visit Chiang Rai may be from November to February. During these months, the city experiences a drier climate with an average rainfall between 14mm (0.55″) and 59mm (2.32″). Coupled with moderate temperatures that vary from a high of 27.2°C (81°F) to 30.5°C (86.9°F) and low of 13.5°C (56.3°F) to 21.1°C (70°F), these conditions are ideal for outdoor activities and exploration. With 7 hours of sunshine each day, visitors may fully experience the attractions and natural beauty this region offers.
The worst time to visit Chiang Rai
June to August proves to be the least desirable period to visit Chiang Rai owing to the high humidity levels, ranging from 80% to 84%, and increased rainfall, with an average monthly precipitation of 284mm (11.18″) to 358mm (14.09″). Moreover, temperatures during these months can rise up to 32.1°C (89.8°F). Clearly, the high likelihood of rainfall combined with the heated environment may deter outdoor activities and sightseeing expeditions.
Where to stay in Chiang Rai
1. MID-RANGE – SLEEPY HOUSE CHIANG RAI
Just a 10-minute walk from Clock Tower Chiang Rai and 0.6 miles from Chiang Rai Saturday Night Walking Street, Sleepy House Chiang Rai features accommodations in Chiang Rai, with a garden. The property is around a 16-minute walk from Statue of King Mengrai, 0.9 miles from Wat Pra Sing, and 2.2 miles from Central Plaza. The bed and breakfast provides rooms with air conditioning, free private parking, and free Wifi.
The bed and breakfast offers a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a hair dryer, free toiletries, and shower. For added convenience, the property can provide towels and linens for a supplement. The rooms are equipped with heating facilities.
2. LUXURY – MORA BOUTIQUE HOTEL
The Mora Boutique Hotel is a 4-star hotel located right in the center. It’s a very perfect location within walking distance to all the major attractions in Chiang Rai. For example, the famous Saturday Night Walking Street is just 300 meters from the property, the Hill Tribe Museum can be reached within a 5 minutes’ walk and the nightly Bazar is 7 minutes away.
The hotel ambience is completely relaxed and laid-back, and the beautiful Thai-style design, guarantees a feeling of well-being. So, after an exciting day of sightseeing this hotel is the perfect to unwind. If you like, you can treat yourself a massage in the beautiful spa area or enjoy delicious tea and cake at the free afternoon tea on the roof terrace.
3. BUDGET – BAAN JARU
Baan Jaru is located 1640 feet from Clock Tower. It offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and free public parking. The property is equipped with a tour desk and rental bicycles
The property is 2625 feet from Chiang Rai Saturday Night Walking Street.
More to Explore
