This Buddhist Temple In Thailand Is Made From Over 1.5 Million Beer Bottles

The sun-kissed landscapes of Thailand attract travellers from all over the world with promises of golden temples, bustling markets, and serene landscapes. But tucked away in this tropical paradise is a hidden gem that will leave you awestruck. Located in the centre of Thailand's Sisaket province, a Buddhist temple is unique not for its ancient history or spiritual rites but rather because of the walls that support it. Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, or the "Temple of a Million Bottles," is built almost entirely of beer bottles. Yes, you read that right - Heineken and Chang beer bottles!

The monks at the temple collected these bottles from the litter around the countryside and used them to build the temple complex, including restrooms, prayer rooms, and even a crematorium.

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The temple's various components were constructed using more than 1.5 million glass bottles. They are held together with concrete and are placed in lovely designs both inside and outside the structures, as per News18.

History of Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew

Back in 1984, a group of Buddhist monks came up with the unique temple idea to tackle the litter problem around the countryside. Concerned about the growing amount of glass bottle waste and motivated by their desire to live sustainably, they decided to gather used bottles and turn them into building materials.

Led by Headmaster Phra Khru Vivek Dharmajahn, the monks began a challenge called 100 Beer Bottles on the Wall and requested used bottle donations from locals and store owners. They started building a shrine out of glass bottles in an abandoned cemetery in their community. Those bottles were recycled into a beautiful glass temple in just two years.

Besides the local government's assistance, citizens began donating their used bottles to the monks. As of now, more than 1.5 million glass bottles have been used to construct more than 20 buildings on the premises, and the number continues to increase.

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The temple glows when sunlight shines through the walls made of brown Chang bottles and green Heineken bottles. Concrete is used to hold the bottles together, and the caps have even been used to make artwork and ornamental mosaics inside the shrine.

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The ordination hall, called Ubosot, is located in a tiny fish-filled lake. The structure is connected by a bridge that has pillars and green and brown glass bottles hidden in the ground. Buddhists gather at the shrine inside the pavilion to offer prayers.

Chedi is a small stupa composed primarily of brown bottles with a few window-shaped mosaic pieces. The majority of the crematorium building is covered in brown bottles, while the railings are made of green bottles.

What began as a modest recycling initiative has grown into a fully functional house of worship and a beacon of sustainability. This unusual Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple attracts tourists from all over the world, not only because of its striking aesthetics but also for the way that innovation and spirituality have coexisted.