Temple Constructed from Over 1.5 Million Recycled Beer Bottles in Thailand?
Visiting the Unique "Temple of a Million Bottles" in Thailand
The Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, also known as the "Temple of a Million Bottles" or the "Wilderness Temple of the Great Glass Pagoda," is a must-visit destination for tourists seeking a unique cultural experience in Thailand. Located in the Khun Han district of Si Sa Ket province, this temple is an eco-friendly architectural marvel made mostly out of Heineken and Chang beer bottles.
The idea for this extraordinary temple came about in 1984 when Buddhist monks sought to address local litter problems by creatively repurposing discarded bottles into temple buildings. The community joined forces with the monks, collecting bottles from the surrounding countryside and contributing to the project.
The temple complex, which houses at least 20 buildings, includes an ubosot (ordination hall), a chedi (stupa), prayer rooms, a crematorium, tourist bathrooms, and bungalows for monks. The ubosot features green and brown glass bottles buried into its ground and pillars, while the chedi is made out of mainly brown bottles with a few mosaic pieces in the shape of windows. The result is a stunning, colourful structure that shines as sunlight passes through the bottle walls.
When visiting the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, it's essential to follow a few guidelines to show respect for the religious site. Women should not touch a monk or their robes. If a monk needs an object, it should be put down with the right hand and allowed for the monk to pick it up. Visitors should remove hats, sunglasses, and shoes when entering a worship area. It's also important to stand up when monks or nuns enter the room and not point at a monk or Buddha statue with fingers, feet, or something in their hands.
Visitors should also refrain from smoking, spitting, chewing gum, or snacking while walking around the temple. Stepping over the wooden threshold to the temple rather than on top of it is also recommended.
The best time to visit the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew is from November through February due to cooler temperatures and reduced humidity. The temple is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, making it easily accessible for tourists.
The Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew is just 101 km away from Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP), and visitors can reach the temple by driving or hiring a taxi. With nearly 45,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand, the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew stands out as a unique and sustainable example of Buddhist architecture that combines environmental harmony with artistic innovation.
Incorporating sustainable practices into the core of cultural attractions, the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew not only showcases an architectural marvel made from recycled beer bottles but also serves as a prime example of environmental-science ingenuity in lifestyle and home-and-garden renovation, proving that waste can transform into works of art that blend seamlessly with the climate-change conversation.
