Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand

December 1969 Issue

Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Heaven and Hell. When visitors make their way to the entrance of Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, in Chiang Rai, Thailand, they pass the gruesome sculpture that was the subject of October’s photo (in the photo above, it’s at the far right in a pit beside the path). The hands represent souls in thrall to their cravings and desires burning in hell; to reach the Gate of Heaven, one must eliminate the cravings and cross the Bridge of Rebirth, seen in the temple photo.

Twelve readers sent in the correct answer by the dead- line, and MAUREEN BABULA of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, won the drawing. We thank Denny Thomas of Wando, South Carolina, for contributing the photo.