Known for its stunning white floating lotus design and close proximity to UNESCO World Heriage Site Ban Chiang (1992), Wat Santi Wanaram is more than a picturesque tourist spot. It’s very grounds a self-sustainable commune, with livestock, irrigated farmland and reverse osmosis filtration.

Wat Santi Wanaram is a well known temple despite its rural location and serves outwardly as a domestic and international tourist spot, with many flocking to see the unique floating lotus design, often as part of a wider trip to Ban Chiang Museum. I have not been shy about my biases when it comes to newer temples, and for much of my time as a photographer refusing to photograph these structures in favour of heritage rich sites. It was only during extensive fieldwork for my previous project Soul of the Planet, Heart of the People did I come to understand that these temples are built and maintained with the same ethos and intentions as those built long before I was born. Perhaps the British side of me still wins, in that I personally care more for heritage and tradition but the Thai people adapt and evolve, and their country and lifestyles are far more fluid in nature. Wat Santi Wanaram is one of many embodiments of such fluidity. Firstly, the white floating lotus is certainly the focal point, yet occupies only a small portion of the complex. Even with newfound appreciation and deeper information, I still didn’t want to make the postcard image one expects, and how happy I am about the above is in debate, but there is no denying the novelty in presenting Wat Santi Wanaram this way. As I said, new build temples are not my forte. I believe my photographic approach is more akin to archaeology, leaning on the imperfections and wear.

On our second visit Davipah Pah Korapah 

Stills by David Roberts ┃Motion by Dararat Phetkon for DRobertsPhoto.com

Thank you to:

Dehancer Film Emulation for collaboration on Discover Temples of Thailand on YouTube

Laowa by Venus Optics for providing lenses during foundational pre-production of Discover Temples of Thailand

The staff at Wat Santi Wanaram for permission, and Davipah Pah Korapah for the interview.