One of the top things to do in Thailand is to visit its many Buddhist temples. According to the country’s National Office for Buddhism, there are nearly 45,000 temples, big and small, that attract millions of tourists every year.
But have you heard of a temple made out of beer bottles?
At first glance, the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew in Si Sa Ket province stands out because of its green appearance. Get closer though and you will notice that the structure is made (mostly) out of Heineken and Chang beer bottles.
In fact, the “Temple of a Million Bottles,” also known as the “Wilderness Temple of the Great Glass Pagoda,” is composed of 1.5 million of them.
The idea for the temple came about after Buddhist monks, disturbed by the amount of discarded bottles and litter in their town, sought to use them in an environmentally friendly way. So, they started collecting them in 1984, and with the help of the local government and tourists, they amassed enough of them to begin construction.
While concrete and other building materials were used, the beer bottles remained the primary construction material, being embedded alongside concrete in the walls and pillars. The bottle caps were used to create interesting mosaics.
At least 20 buildings were constructed in this fashion, including a crematorium, a series of prayer rooms, the local water tower, bathrooms for tourists and several raised bungalows for the monks.
The ubosot (ordination hall), situated in a small lake with fish, has green and brown glass bottles buried into its ground and pillars. Inside the pavilion is a shrine, where Buddhists go to pray. The chedi (stupa) is made out of mainly brown bottles with a couple of mosaic pieces in the shape of windows.
Visiting the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew is a mesmerising experience. As guests step inside, they notice how the space glows when sunlight shines through the walls made out of brown Chang bottles and green Heineken ones.
This innovative approach to reducing waste is evidence of the monks’ creativity and principles of working harmoniously with the natural world. So, the next time you’re in the vicinity of the Khun Han district of Si Sa Ket province, stop at the “Temple of a Million Bottles” for a unique experience that is hard to find anywhere else.
The recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia spurred the Indian Embassy to advise travellers against visiting the Si Sa Ket province, among others. While a ceasefire is now in place, tensions remain high.
Once it is safe to do so, November through February are the ideal months to visit Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew. At this time of year, Thailand has cooler temperatures and reduced humidity.
The temple's opening times are from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Remove hats, sunglasses and shoes when entering a worship area.
Step over the wooden threshold to the temple rather than on top of it.
Stand up when monks or nuns enter the room.
Don't point at a monk or Buddha statue with your fingers, feet or something in your hands.
Don't smoke, spit, chew gum or snack while walking around.
Women must never touch a monk or their robes. If you must hand a monk something, put the object down with your right hand and allow the monk to pick it up.
Take a flight to Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) from Bangkok or any other Thai city. Drive or hire a taxi to the Khun Han district, 101 km away.
