Chiang Rai, Thailand: Of 'Temples' with vibrant colors

The Chiang Rai province is located further up North. There are two ways of getting here: either fly directly to Chiang Rai or you can hire a van or car and reach the location. The road trip will be more than 4-5 hours.

The amazing journey of temples leaves you amazed with the colors that have been used to decorate these structures. Some are old, while others are new styles. The temple premises are large and picturesque. Here are the temples that I was able to visit:

The White temple: An extremely magnificent structure in white with a dragon-like structures reminding you of the Chinese influence in the Thai culture. There are several smaller temples in the compound which are each different from the other. One of the most surprising structures for me was the restrooms in this compound. A huge house-like structure in gold, the most beautifully done restroom I have ever seen. You must definitely use it, if there were no signs I would have never guessed it to be a restroom.

The Blue Temple: This is much smaller than the white temple. I found these colors more vibrant than the white. The architectural style is almost similar to the other though less magnificient. The image of the Buddha with a blue reflection made of white stone quartz like makes it one of the most unique statues that I have come across.

There is also The Black Temple in the area I believe to be more beautiful. I did not have the time to visit the place.

The road is very picturesque with May flowers blooming, and mountain views. Thailand is home to varied colors of May Flowers as in other parts of South Asia. You can also stop on the way and check out some of the local cafes and shops.

I hope you find your way to Chiang Rai interesting. Either take a road trip up or back from Chiang Rai. It's a refreshing journey enjoying nature.