Chiang Rai White Temple will not be free of charge any more
White Temple is the most visited landmark in Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand. A place very popular among tourists, built by a local artist, whose entrance has always be free of charge but will be paying from 1st October. The price will then be 50 baht for foreign visitors.
The White Temple entrance will cost 50 THB
Chalermchai Kositpipat, an artist born in Chiang Rai built this unique Buddhist temple with its own funds and had chosen to allow visitors to discover his work for free. And that was the case for 19 years since the Wat Rong Khun (the real name of the White Temple) exists.
But today, the temple has a management committee and its members decided that admission fees should be collected in order to pay for the improvement of facilities of the White Temple Chiang Rai to accommodate the very large number of annual visitors.
It’s true that this is somewhat in contradiction with the Chalermchai Kositpipat statements whenhe built the temple and said its intnetion of making it the first tourist attraction of the country with noadmission fee.
But the temple committee, agreed that admission fees has also to be collected to raise au fund to manage the temple after its creator no longer lives.
Entry to White Temple will remain free for Thais
This collection of the entrance fee will start in two days but only for foreign visitors, the locals will not be affected and will still enjoy free admission. Dual pricing, or pricing only for non-Thai visitor is common in Thailand and is debated regularly. I already took a position on the subject, I will not do it again here.
In the past, Chalermchai Kositpipat used the money earned by selling his paintings and books to advertise and promote his temple in the world and manage it. Only, few visitors actually buysomething during their visit. They were more than a million last year to visit the White Temple without buying anything.
In exchange for 50 baht admission fee each foreign visitor will receive a ticket and a small manual on the temple and a bag. And frankly, this price is more than reasonable.
Despite the introduction of this entrance fee, I highly recommend you to visit Chiang Rai White Temple ! It is truly an amazing temple and a must go on any stayin the province. And of course, you find all practical information to discover this unique temple (how to come from Chiang Rai city in particular) on our page about Chiang Rai White Temple.
