Wat Huay Pla Kang in Chiang Rai
Apart from the beauty of nature around the city, Chiang Rai is also widely praised for its picturesque establishments and buildings – in particular, its temples. Some famous places of worship, like Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) and Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple), have captured the attention of backpackers in Thailand, thus prompting an influx of visitors to the city.
Besides these OG options, Wat Huay Pla Kang boasts a white building front along with a gigantic Guan Yin statue and a Chinese Lanna-style pagoda that allows you to enjoy a scenic view from elevated floors. If you want to check this temple out the next time you’re in Chiang Rai, read on for what to expect.
More places in Thailand to visit:
- Ban Tha Ranae in Trat has massive mangroves for SUP paddling
- Songkhla has a Thailand “Taj Mahal”-like mosque
- 101 Tea Green View Resort boasts loft homestays with Yunnan vibes
Admire a white temple & a gigantic Guan Yin statue
Upon entering the premises of Wat Huay Pla Kang, the first thing that’s bound to catch your attention from miles away is this huge white Guan Yin statue. With its vast scale and pristine white marble surface, the statue is regarded as a major feature that attracts pious believers and curious tourists from all over the world.
A fun fact is that the statue isn’t just a typical statue – visitors can take an elevator to the top to admire the intricate murals carved into the massive white stone. Do note that guests aren’t allowed to touch the sculptures or displays, as the temple is concerned about potential damage being done to them.
A few metres away lies a grand temple hall that’s painted from top to toe in white, in contrast to the sandy red roof tiles on top. At the entrance, you’ll find a long stairway that’s decked with white dragons on both sides, another potential locale for a quick photo-op.
Stepping into the temple’s grand hall, you’ll notice two white Buddha statues right at the heart of the hall of worship. This is also where believers, and visitors may pay their respects and conduct their prayers in private.
Before you exit, however, do pause to observe how the panels and poles are covered in carved mosaic patterns – an intricate labour of love that belies how much effort went into its construction.
Take a look inside a 9-level Chinese-Lanna pagoda
Yet another highlight of your visit to Wat Huay Pla Kang will be the 9-floor pagoda constructed in a Chinese-Lanna style. The structure houses many sacred statues for guests to pay their respects to within.
At 9-storeys high, this pagoda also functions as a viewpoint for tourists to gain access to scenic views of the neighbourhood. Once the sun dips into the horizon, you’ll be able to spot the pagoda’s silhouette as part of the quaint town’s skyline from afar.
Getting to Wat Huay Pla Kang
If you’ve taken a fancy to Wat Rong Khun and Wat Rong Suea Ten, we hope this temple will be another place that you’ll keep on your list. Beyond being a great place to make merit, the amount of effort that went into its design and how it has a grand hall, giant statue and pagoda all clustered in one place, makes any visit to the lesser-known temple worthwhile.
Getting here from downtown Chiang Rai takes less than 20 minutes. We’d say it’s very easy to visit for most city-based tourists. So do consider bookmarking this temple for your next trip to Chiang Rai, and we’re positive it will be yet another place you’ll long to revisit in the future.
Wat Huay Pla Kang
Address: 553 Moo 3 Tambon Mae Yao, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57100
Opening Hours: 7AM – 9.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 5 315 0274
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Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @k_az789, @k_az789, @eddyshopthai, @wannawat326
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