Thailand’s temples are world-renowned for their awe-inspiring architecture, grandeur, and peaceful atmosphere. But, there’s a temple in the Sisaket province in northeast Thailand that is grabbing the headlines for something else entirely! You must’ve heard of temples built of bamboo, concrete, stone, and other such common materials – but have you heard of a temple made entirely of beer bottles? As bizarre as it may sound, the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple in Sisaket, Thailand, is made up of 1.5 million beer bottles! Each corner and crevice of the temple is made of…yes, you guessed it right - bottles! Let’s give you a deep dive into the astonishing marvel of a temple!
The history of the temple takes us back to 1984 when a group of Buddhist monks had a unique idea to tackle the litter problem in the Thai countryside. Glass bottle waste was a major concern that the monks wanted to tackle and it was this motivation that they decided to gather used bottles and turn them into building materials.
Under the leadership of Headmaster Phra Khru Vivek Dharmajahn, the monks began what they called a ‘100 beer bottles on the wall’ challenge and requested locals and store owners to donate used bottles. They began building a shrine out of these bottles in an abandoned cemetery in their community. Soon, used glass bottles, which were discarded as waste products, had become the facade of a beautiful Thai temple in just two years!
The local government assisted the monks, but besides that, citizens came forward to help them out for such a noble cause. As of now, there are more than 1.5 million glass bottles that have been used in the construction of the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple. These bottles have been used not only for the main building of the temple complex, but also for about 20 other buildings on the premises.
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Take a look at the stunning facade of the temple and you will notice the bottles incorporated into its construction. These include primarily brown bottles from ‘chang’, a local beer, as well as globally recognized Heineken bottles. Additionally, bottles from energy drinks like Red Bull and M-150, along with clear soda bottles, have also been used in the temple's structure.
Concrete has been used to cement the millions of bottle pieces in shape and even bottle caps have been used in different parts of the buildings. What’s also eye-catching is the way the sunlight hits and reflects off these transparent glass bottles, creating a visually-striking spectacle for temple visitors.
The many small bungalows in the temple complex where monks live are also made of glass bottles. And that’s not enough! The public toilets inside the temple complex also use glass bottles!
Another important building made of glass bottles is the Ubosot or the ordination hall. This small building sits in a fish-filled lake and is made with green and brown bottles. The Ubosot is connected by a bridge that has pillars and bottles hidden in the ground. Monks and locals gather at the shrine inside the pavilion to offer prayers, where there are seven Buddha images for the seven days of the week.
To the right of the ordination hall sits the crematorium building. This structure is mostly made of brown bottles, whereas the railing is made of green bottles. The Chedi is also an important building that will capture your attention with its brown facade. The building is made entirely of brown bottles and has a couple of mosaic pieces installed on the windows. You’ll also be delighted to see that there is a reclining Buddha sculpture within the temple premises that has been decorated with glass bottles as well!
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No, this isn’t just a gimmick to grab headlines and attract curious tourists, but the temple’s use of glass bottles traces itself to many noble causes. While the use of only glass bottles is a cool concept, it has many benefits in the long run as mentioned below:
Who knew empty beer bottles could end up adorning temple buildings? The Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple in Sisaket, Thailand, proves that waste products too can have a new life if used economically. The building structures are made entirely of glass beer bottles, making it a sustainable, economical, and most importantly, an inspiring structure for the world to admire! The next time you’re planning a trip to Thailand, don’t forget to add this place to your bucket list!