Chiang Rai food & night market walking tour with local host

Temple complex featuring a 9-floor pagoda with 12 surrounding structures & a giant Buddha.

Designed by Thai artist Chalermchai Khositpipat and unveiled in 2008 in honour of His Majesty the King, Chiang Rai’s elaborate golden clocktower (Hoh Nalika Chalerm Prakiat) is a work of art and tourist attraction in its own right. Chalermchai was the man who built the White Temple in Chiang Rai and that same distinctive architectural style from Wat Rong Khun can be seen again with the clocktower. The structure serves as a traffic roundabout and whilst it is distinctive enough during the day, the clocktower and setting take on a whole new quality when it is lit up in the evening. The Chiang Rai clocktower is located where Thanon Jet Yot meets Thanon Baanpa Pragarn. Look out too for the elaborate gilded street lights which line Baanpa Pragarn road on either side of the clocktower

Wat Rong Seur Ten (Blue Temple) is not as well know as the White Temple in Chiang Rai but is certainly a colourful temple. We got here at sunset and the blue and gold glistened beautifully. There was no entrance fee and this seems to be an active temple as many people were in here showing their respect/praying as well as monks. You need to remove your shoes to entry and no one was there to enforce dress code but most people were already dressed respectfully as they had visited other temples that day. The huge white Buddha in the temple is very impressive. Work is still in progress especially outside on the temple grounds.