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ThailandDescription and is it worth a visit
The Baan Dam Museum or the "Black Temple", also known as the "Black House" is one of the most unusual attractions in Chiang Rai Province. Despite the well-established name, this is not exactly a temple. Or rather, it's not even a temple at all. You can describe this place as an exhibition or a museum of modern and traditional art in the open air. According to some versions The White Temple of Chiang Rai is considered the personification of paradise, and "Black" – hell. Anyway, the place is very interesting and, in our opinion, definitely deserves a visit. And what it represents for you, decide for yourself when you visit it.
Thai artist Thawan Duch has created 40 houses in traditional styles on the territory of the "exhibition temple". Some of them are made and reflect Thai architecture, some Balinese and Burmese, and some have everything mixed up. But do not think that this is just an exhibition of houses and buildings, it is not so at all. Both the territory of the complex and the buildings are filled with works of contemporary art, which are based on traditional ideas about art, at least in the artist's opinion. These are mainly sculptures and installations made of natural materials: wood, bamboo, bones and skin of animals, marine life. There are also paintings in the collection. Some of the exhibits are real works of art, and some will cause a smile and embarrassment. Look at our photos and videos and you will understand everything for yourself. Well, it's better to come to this museum and see everything with your own eyes.
Visiting the Black Temple used to be free, but now you have to pay for admission, after all, this is a museum, and a private one. The entrance fee is small – 80 baht. Moreover, for this money you will also receive a colorful map-guide to the complex, which can be left as a souvenir. You can explore the museum along the route suggested in the map, or you can walk arbitrarily as you want, and stay here at least until the end of working hours. A leisurely acquaintance with the complex will take 3-4 hours, and you can quickly inspect it in an hour, but no less.
🕐 Working hours
From 09:00 to 17:00, seven days a week. It is better to come here as a minmimum at 15 o'clock, otherwise you may not have time to see everything.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price
80 baht (2.45 USD, money of Thailand, exchange rate).
🚶 How to get there
The Baan Dam Museum or the Black Temple is located 10 kilometers from Chiang Rai in one of its suburbs (position of the Black Temple on the Chiang Rai map). It is most convenient to go here by rented transport or taxi, you can even come by bike. Parking is free here. But it will not be difficult to get there by public transport for just 20 baht. To do this, come to the bus station in the center of Chiang Mai and ask other passengers or staff there how to get to Black Temple, they will help you find the right Songthaew minibus. Drive 20 minutes to the bus stop on the main highway (the driver will drop you off where you need to), and then to the temple by signs 10 minutes on foot.
You can also visit the temple from Chiang Mai for one day. It is best to take a taxi, with an excursion, or you can take a bus to Chiang Rai and transfer there to a minibus to the temple as written above (read more how to get to Chiang Rai by bus here). It is also possible to get here by rented transport in the currents, but we would recommend not to go by motorbike, because the movement on them is very slow, and you may simply not have time to return in one day.
Friends, we remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights of Thailand with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at options with online booking and reviews on these excursion aggregators: