When we think of Thailand, the first things that come to mind are the nightlife and the party culture which is associated with lots and lots of beers. But, can beer be further associated with a temple? Not really? Well, what if I tell you that there is a Buddhist Temple of Thailand which is made of a whooping 1.5 million beer bottles – Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew popularly known as the “Temple of Beer Bottles”?
Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew or Wat Lan Khuat literally means Wilderness Temple of the Great Glass Pagoda. Due to the unique material used for construction, this temple is also called the Temple of a Million Bottles.
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The history of the Temple of Beer Bottles is a fascinating tale of creativity and sustainability. In the 1980s, the monks were concerned over the issue of increasing litter in the sea and surrounding areas, which was the result of the party culture in Thailand.Disturbed by the thought of how the beer bottles could damage the region’s beauty, they decided to take up a unique project. If beer bottles can damage the natural beauty, why can’t they be used to enhance the beauty of the region? With this came an extraordinary idea of reusing the abundant empty beer bottles.
The construction of this remarkable temple began with a simple idea: to recycle and reuse. Over 1.5 million beer bottles were collected by the monks through various resources. The government and the villagers also contributed by donating empty bottles for the construction of this Temple of Beer Bottles.
These beer bottles were used to build the entire temple complex, including the prayer hall and surrounding structures in 1984. The result is a mesmerizing mosaic of colorful glass bottles that glisten in the sunlight.
This temple is not just a testament to human ingenuity but also a symbol of respect for nature. It represents a fusion of spirituality and sustainability, sending a powerful message about eco-friendly living. The “Temple of Beer Bottles” is a living example of how discarded materials can be transformed into a place of worship and a beacon of environmental consciousness.
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