Big Buddha Phuket

Coming to Phuket entertainment paradise, visitors not only have the opportunity to visit, travel, explore the fascinating architectural works but also admire the outstanding ancient temples as well as the magnificent statues of this beautiful city. 

Big Buddha Phuket

The statue of the Big Buddha Phuket is situated on Nakkerd hill between Chalong and Kata. With a height of 45 meters, the statue is easily observed even on the way to the destination and will definitely impress tourists from their first sights. With such impressive height, the statue is recognized as the third tallest statue in Thailand. This great location also offers a perfect 360-degree panoramic view of the island, with spectacular observation of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon Beach, Chalong Bay and many more. For the reasons above, tourists should not hesitate but pack your bag, come to the Big Buddha and explore the site as soon as possible!

The full name of the Big Buddha image is Buddha Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri, meaning the Buddha sits gloriously honorable on top of the hill of Naka. The entire body of the statue is built of reinforced concrete covered with beautiful white jade marble imported from Burma. The statue is made entirely of Myanmar granite with a total weight of about 135 tons / 2500 square meters. The sunlit area of the statue becomes an optimistic symbol of hope for Phuket. In fact, this area has two statues of Buddha and visitors are free to visit both. Nearby the Big Buddha Phuket is another marvelous Buddha Image yet relatively smaller and is made from bronze. The second bronze statue, only 39 feet (12 meters) high, is reserved for the Queen of Thailand while the Giant Buddha statue is dedicated to the King.

Giant Buddha image in Phuket

Visitors will easily feel overwhelmed when standing at the foot of this giant meditation-pose Buddha image. Both the size of the Big Buddha statue and the scenery of Phuket seen from the base of the statue are very spectacular. The views of the white sand beaches of Kata and Karon, Chalong Bay and many of Phuket Town's neighborhoods are the best on the island. This is a place of worship and rest. Monks chanting, Buddhist music and Buddha flags all contribute to creating a sacred atmosphere here. The cost of building Big Buddha is approximately 30 million Baht. The special thing is that this Buddha image was built almost entirely by the merit money sponsored by Buddhists on the occasion of King Rama V's 80th birthday. This ambitious project began as a symbol of hope after the destruction of the tsunami in 2004. Layers of sparkling Burmese marble envelop the body of the Buddha, creating beautiful memorable pictures.

Over view of Big Buddha Phuket

It is easy to access the Big Buddha image area on the 6 km long road leading from Phuket's main road. This is definitely a point that visitors should not miss when visiting this island. Most tourists choose to walk up the hill. Along the way to the Big Buddha image has many ideal viewpoints and the atmosphere as well as the surrounding scenes are very rewarding. The sceneries of Big Buddha Image is undoubtedly serene and the only "noise" you will hear are the small bells ringing and yellow Buddhist flags swaying in the wind, with the relaxing sound of the knock, the wind and the gentle sea. At the foot of the big Buddha Mountain there is a donation or merit box to contribute to the repairing of the statue and serving ceremonial activities. There is a historical gallery of the project sketching the construction process of the Big Buddha, some Buddhist teachings as well as paintings depicting the stages of Buddha's life. Tourists might be quite annoyed and sometimes disliked when some locals sell gift boxes and trusses ask for money right at the holy land. However, whether tourists like it or not, the whole project is based on the contribution of the public, and the people.

The road to the big Buddha is outside of Chao Fa near Chalong. There are many red-white directions for visitors to easily recognize. Go down Soi Yodsane and just follow the instructions for the next 6 km and you will find yourself at the foot of the hill leading to the Big Buddha Phuket. As one of the most popular attractions in Phuket, with detailed road signs directing to the Big Buddha, visitors can easily find it without any difficulty. Even asking anyone on the island, the friendly locals will readily guide you there simply because the Big Buddha Statue is not only a symbol of Phuket but also the pride of the people here. It takes about 40 minutes to travel from Patong, Karon or Phuket town. However, the best and safest way to get here is to hire a taxi because the road to the destination is very sloppy and precarious.

Visit Big Buddha

The opening hour is from 8 a.m to 7.30 p.m. If you want to catch the magnificent sunset from one of Thailand's best viewing spots, try to visit Big Buddha before 6pm. One notable thing for tourists is related to the dressing attire. Tourists are obliged to wear appropriate clothes or long skirts to show respect for the religion and people of the "Golden Temple country". If not prepared, visitors can rent sarongs to cover your legs before visiting the Buddha statues. Since visiting Big Buddha Phuket is an outdoor activity, the best time to visit Phuket is from November to March due to the warm and dry weather. Additionally, the weather is suitable for participating in recreational activities, enjoying the taste of the sea and visiting nearby attractions. Wat Chalong is a nearby destination recommended for tourists after visiting Big Buddha Phuket.