Five Of The Most Magical Temples In Thailand

Thailand is known for having some of the most magical looking temples. You can find traditional buddhist temples, modern temples, gorgeously colored temples, and temples that hang over the side of a cliff. And when you visit one of these magical temples in Thailand, you’ll be surprised at how quickly they take your breath away.

I was lucky to explore so many different parts of Thailand while I lived there. I spent a lot of time in the Northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and traveled through the center and found my way to the south. Thailand is so diverse depending on where you are in the “land of smiles.” And with that diversity comes different styles of temples.

The Most Magical Temples In Thailand

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew is made of millions of pieces of colored glass shards (and it’s my favorite temple). It translates into “Temple On A Glass Cliff” and it’s located on the border of the Petchuban and Phitsanulok provinces. It’s a bit of a pain to get to, but it is so worth it. We took a bus from our province (Phrae) to Phitsanulok. We spent the night there and in the morning we caught a bus going to Kho Khao. You have to be aware of when to get off the bus as it’s not a normal bus station. From there we had a songtaew take us up to the temple.

And then your jaw will drop. Wat Pha Sorn Kaew is one of the most colorful places I’ve had the change to visit. It’s absolutely stunning and better yet, it’s virtually unknown to tourists. Read more about the gorgeous temple and start planning your visit for your next visit to Thailand.

The White Temple

If you’re going to be spending time in the Northern provinces of Thailand, you must spend time in Chiang Rai. And the main reason that you’ll visit this beautiful province? Wat Rong Khun, better known as The White Temple. It’s just a twenty minute motorbike ride from downtown Chiang Rai and it is stunning. Visiting it is like stepping into a real life fairy tale. The stunning temple was built by Thai artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat. It is unique because of it’s white color which represents the purity of the Buddha. It will be the highlight of your trip. For more information visit my post about the amazing temple.

Wat Chalermprakiat Prajongklao Rachanusorn

Yes, that’s a mouthful. But, if you choose to visit this mountainside temple in Lampang, you will truly be blown away by one of the most magical temples in Thailand. This temple sits atop Pu Yak mountain and encapsulates that serenity that people often look for when visiting temples. There is almost no information about this temple on the internet (but you can read all about my visit to it over here), leaving you with a lot of guess work.

We rented motorbikes from the Lampang center and drove about an hour and a half to the base of the mountain. From there you’ll hop into the back of a pick up truck and drive up a steep mountainside. You’ll walk up a bunch of stairs and then you’ll see a ton of beautiful pagodas and structures where you will get 360 views of the mountains. It was truly incredible.

Doi Suthep

Chiang Mai is usually a no brainer when you’re visiting Thailand. Most people will visit Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and an island or two while visiting. So, make the most out of your time in Chiang Mai. There are a ton of wonderful things to do in the big city, but one that you can’t miss is a visit to Doi Suthep. Wat Phrat Doi Suthep is a beautiful temple overlooking the city of Chiang Mai. It’s located just outside of the city. You will ascend 300 steps to reach the top and then you’ll be in awe of all of the gold leaf you’ll see. The temple is intricately designed and the view of Chiang Mai is worth the trek up to the top.

Wat Pho

Located next to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho is home to one of the largest reclining Buddhas. The Bangkok temple is so gorgeous and you could spend over an hour exploring the property. I suggest arriving early if you want to beat the crowd. When you get inside you’ll see so many colorful pagodas and temples. Everything is full of ornate detail and you’ll quickly fall in love with the temple complex. It should definitely be on your Bangkok bucket list. 

Pin It For Later: