Big Buddha in Phuket

Big Buddha in Phuket is a temple complex and the largest Buddha statue visible from anywhere in the south of the Thai island of Phuket. The giant Buddha is one of the main attractions of the resort, where all vacationers on the island try to get to. The statue is installed on the green hill Nakkerd, at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level. At its foot is an observation deck, which offers excellent views of the surrounding peaks and the entire southeastern part of the island.

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Video: Big Buddha in Phuket

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Highlights

In addition to the main statue of the 45-meter-high Sitting Buddha, the site features a 12-meter-high golden Buddha sculpture. The large Buddha was made of concrete and lined with small snow-white marble tiles imported from Myanmar. In the sunlight, the polished stone shimmers beautifully, and from afar the statue seems to be enveloped in a glow.

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Near the observation deck, small stalls sell Thai souvenirs, fruits and drinks. Here you can buy small Buddha figures, elephant sculptures, aromatic oils, shaped candles, herbal creams, coconut oil and honey. There is also a symbolic kilometer pole “Big Buddha Phuket 0 km.”

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Under the canopy are stands with paper bills of Thailand issued in different years. There is a small Buddhist temple next to the wide staircase that travelers climb up to the statue.

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The statue of Big Buddha in Phuket is mounted on a rounded pedestal 3 meters high. Between the columns you can see stands with information about the construction of the landmark, ritual trees with yellow metal leaves, small sculptures of Buddhist saints and kings of Thailand.

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The story behind the creation of the Big Buddha statue

The idea to build a large Buddha statue was born by a group of Thai friends during a walk. They went to explore the neighborhoods around the popular beaches of Karon and Kata and found a convenient location. It took several years to get the necessary documents and permits. Finally, in 2002, construction began.

The main money for the new statue was allocated by the Phuket authorities. In addition, the construction of the largest Buddha statue in the country was sponsored by the islanders and tourists. The main costs amounted to 30 million baht. However, the construction of the temple complex is so large that finishing work on Big Buddha Hill continues to this day and is unlikely to end anytime soon.

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Tourist Information

Tourists get to the Big Buddha in Phuket by road. On the way to the landmark, tour buses and cabs stop at four observation decks. From the first and second, you can view the picturesque Chalong Bay to the east. From the third platform, which is half a kilometer away from the statue, you can get an excellent panorama of one of Phuket’s longest beaches – Karon, and from the fourth one you can see Kata Beach. All vantage points make for great photos.

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There are small restaurants at the viewpoints where you can relax and taste delicious national cuisine. There is a convenient free parking lot next to the Big Buddha in Phuket, and there is a restaurant and restroom near it. On the way to the top of the hill, tourists pass by an elephant farm where you can take an elephant ride, treat the elephants to bananas and take pictures with the animals.

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The temple complex is one of the Buddhist shrines, so guests are asked to treat it with respect. Note that Buddhists do not point fingers at statues and temples, turn their backs to Buddha images, or laugh loudly near shrines. To travel to the Big Buddha, men should wear pants or breeches, and women should wear clothes that cover the knees and shoulders. Those who have not taken care of the dress code in advance will be given a free sarong.

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The temple complex is open daily from 6.00 to 19.00. For sunset photography, people come here from 17.30 to 18.30 – depending on the time of year. The opening times refer to the hours during which the souvenir shops are open. Those who want can come to the Big Buddha in Phuket at any convenient time – both at 5am and late at night.

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How to get there

The Big Buddha in Phuket is perched on a hill in the southeastern part of the island. The temple complex is 2 kilometers east of Karon and Kata beaches. Most travelers get here by buying a sightseeing tour from any of Phuket’s travel agencies.

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The hill with the Buddha statue is not difficult to reach by rented car or motorcycle. From Karon or Kata beaches, the road up takes 25-30 minutes (15-16 km). In addition, you can get to the Big Buddha by local cabs – tuk-tuks. However, knowing the popularity of this place, cab drivers usually charge a high price, and in order to reduce it, it is worth haggling.

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Another option is to arrive at the top of the hill on foot. The drive from Karon Beach to the top will take about two hours.