The Black House - Baan Daam

After visiting the White Temple and the Blue Temple, we arrived at our third and final colorful Chiang Rai destination: the Black House. Unlike the two colorful temples, the Black House is a private residence, although it definitely goes together in the same theme.

The Black House

And the Black House is... really weird.

exterior of the Black House

Built by yet another local artist, the Black House is really more of an estate; a collection of 40-something buildings all built in a slightly twisted northern-Thai style.

outside the Black House

While the buildings may look beautiful on the outside, the interior is quite creepy. Dark, and decorated with animal bones and skins, the concept apparently is representative of dhakka, the Buddhist concept of earthly suffering.

in the Black House

While the buildings are beautiful and elegant, a heavy darkness hangs over the grounds. Even if you aren't superstitious in any way, you can still feel a sense of darkness and death - and that's the point. But it's not necessarily supposed to be evil, or even bad. Death is just a part of life, and the grounds of the complex are profoundly peaceful.

buildings at the Black House

my favorite building at the complex

Unlike the fancy golden bathrooms at the White Temple, the (off-limits except for photographs) toilet here at the Black House is full of shells and skulls. Kind of a creepy place to take care of business.

Black House bathroom

Throughout the large sprawling grounds grow thick bamboo groves and tall leafy trees. The occasional moss-covered Balinese-style statue decked out in marigold garlands.

Ganesh

Only a few of the buildings are open to enter, although most have windows or open doors for visitors to peer in and have a look around. The artist passed away a few years ago, so the complex is now much more a museum than it is an actual home.

While I can't say I totally "get" the Black House, I do appreciate it. Even a non-Buddhist can appreciate the need to recognize suffering and death in the world. In a way, I suppose it can help motivate visitors to think about what they can do to help ease the suffering that they encounter around them throughout their lives.

Still, I have to say that of the three colorful destinations we visited on our morning in Chiang Rai, the Blue Temple was by far my favorite!

marble bust of the artist and some of his works