Creepy, Spectacular, Ornate and Not Finished

While passing through Chiang Rai on our way to Laos, we came across one of the strangest religious sites that we have ever visited – Wat Rong Khun. Commonly referred to as the White Temple by tourists, this modern day buddhist site has been shocking visitors eyes since construction began in 1996.

The extreme detail covering every square inch of the temple is oddly spooky, but spectacular at the same time. It gets even stranger when you walk inside the temple. The interior walls are plastered with modern day pop figures, including Superman, Batman and Neo from The Matrix.

Wat Rong Khun offers a refreshing break from the monotony of temple hopping through Southeast Asia. It is undoubtedly one of the coolest religious sites that we’ve explored anywhere in the world.

Oh and lastly, the temple is still under construction and not expected to be completed until 2070. Sounds a lot like Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to us

If you happen to be in Chiang Rai, make plans to enjoy sunrise or sunset at the temple. Until you make your visit, here are a couple of pictures we captured on ours. Enjoy!