01-08-2025
When Priests Asked For ‘Heineken, Chang Beer Bottles'. Result: THIS Nation's Unique Temple Named...
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In Thailand, particularly in Sisaket province, about 500 km from Bangkok, a group of monks have built a temple using empty beer bottles.
In many developing countries, people find smart ways to reuse waste to build homes and shelters. But in Thailand, particularly in Sisaket province, about 500 km from Bangkok, a group of monks have built a temple using empty beer bottles. This special place is called Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, which means 'Wilderness Temple of the Great Glass Pagoda.'
It's also known as the Temple of a Million Bottles because of the way it was made. Over 1.5 million glass bottles were used to build the different parts of the temple. The bottles are arranged in beautiful patterns, inside and outside the buildings, held together with concrete.
Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew's History
In 1984, a group of Buddhist monks became tired of seeing litter around the countryside, due to which they started a challenge called 100 Beer Bottles on the Wall. The idea was led by Headmaster Phra Khru Vivek Dharmajahn, who wanted to turn trash into something useful. The monks chose an empty burial ground in their village to begin temple construction using glass bottles. They asked local people and shop owners to donate their used bottles. In just two years, those bottles were reused to build a stunning glass temple.
Materials Used For Construction
To keep the temple looking beautiful and colourful, the monks mainly used green Heineken bottles and brown bottles from local brands like Chang and Singha. The same bottles were also used to decorate the railings. In the end, they managed to gather enough bottles to build not just one building, but a full temple complex with around 20 structures. These include prayer halls, living spaces, a water tower, bathrooms for visitors and even a crematorium.
Inside the buildings, many wall designs and statues look like colourful mosaics from a distance. But when you get closer, you'll see that these artworks are actually made from bottle caps.
Even though drinking alcohol is considered a sin in Buddhism, using beer bottles in this way gives them a new and meaningful purpose. Instead of promoting drinking, the bottles are reused to build a peaceful and spiritual place.
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