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November 5, 2018The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) (วัดร่องเสือเต้น) in Chiang Rai
The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) is the newest temple on the scene in Chiang Rai. Located just a few kilometers from Chiang Rai city in the district of Rimkok, it was completed in 2016.
The Blue Temple is smaller than its counterparts – the White temple and Black House. Nevertheless it’s just as striking, painted in an eye-catching blue with overlays of gold embellishments. The centerpiece inside the great hall, is a huge statue of a White Buddha in sitting position surrounded by contemporary Buddhist art in a modern style. It’s psychedelic design bears a striking resemblance to the White Temple and Black House, because it was built by the student of Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat (the famous Thai artist who built the White Temple).
The name ‘Rong Suea Ten’ in Thai, translates as ‘house of the dancing tiger’ because historically, the area surrounding the temple, was full of wildlife, in particular tigers who leapt into the nearby Mae Kok river.
As relatively new temple, its not yet widely known to tourists, but will likely reach the same popularity and status as the other colourful temples of Chiang Rai.
Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten – Chiang Rai
How to get to the Blue Temple
There is no public transportation there, but its easy to catch a tuk tuk or driver to take you there. From the King Mengrai Monument, take the road No. 1 to get out of the city, cross the river Kok. Look our for the sign indicating the temple on the left, less than 1 kilometre after crossing the river
The Black House is also nearby, so you should make a stop to visit that on your way back.
Map of the Blue Temple
Address: 306 หมู่ที่ 2 Maekok Rd, ตำบล ริมกก อำเภอ เมืองเชียงราย Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57100
GPS Coordinates : 19.923327,99.841884
When to visit
From our experience, the best time to visit the Blue Temple is early in the morning between 8-10am. This is before any tourist crowds have arrived, and you’ll get to experience the tranquility of the temple. It’s also a lot cooler before the heat of the day sets in.
The temple is open daily and is free
Temple Etiquette
As with any temple in Thailand, there are some rules visitors should follow:
- Dress modestly (knees and shoulders should be covered)
- Take off your shoes when entering the buildings
- Be quiet
- Do not show affectionate behaviour (no hugging or kissing)
- Don’t point your feet to Buddha’s image
If you’ve visited a lot of temples (wats) during your stay in Thailand, then the Blue temple certainly offers an alternative temple experience.
