Excursion to Big Buddha Phuket. Big Buddha. Opening hours and other useful information
There is a landmark in Phuket with a very difficult fate - this is the Big Buddha temple complex, located in the Chalong area on Mount Nakaked. Its construction was conceived at the beginning of our century, in 2002, but it is still difficult to name any specific dates for its completion.
What is included in the temple complex
The temple complex consists of several levels. At the entrance to the territory of the complex, you will see several pavilions where you can relax after a long climb up the mountain - if you decide to climb on your own, it can take you about an hour. A little further than the gazebos is the lowest level of the temple with a monument to King Rama V and an amazing gong that emits a magical melody that resembles singing when rubbed. The monks say that only those who are pure in heart can make this gong sound.
There is also a museum with images of the stages of the long construction of the temple and a souvenir shop where you can buy a marble tablet with wishes, aromatic oils, a magnet with the image of the Buddha or a melodious bell, thus contributing to donations for the construction of the complex. The Temple of the Big Buddha, like all other temples in Thailand, is built solely on donations.
Also in the temple you can ask for blessings from the monks, who will happily advise you kind words. By the way, the atmosphere in this temple, unlike many similar ones in Phuket, and throughout the country, is completely relaxed and even cheerful.
After walking along the lower level, you can climb up to the main statues, to which a staircase with images of various gods leads - Buddha, Bodhiswat, statues of the goddess of earth and abundance, and others.
buddha statues
And at the very top are two Buddha statues, one of which can be seen from almost anywhere in Phuket. This is a 45-meter Buddha statue from white marble built in honor of the current King of Thailand. Around the statue you can see the flags of the country, and the statue itself is made of many small marble bricks. The second statue, smaller, only 12 meters, is an exact copy of the first, only it is made of copper and erected in honor of the real Queen Sirikit.
The Big Buddha is remarkable not only for its gigantic size, but also for the fact that from the mountain next to it a magnificent view of part of Phuket opens up, and in terms of the beauty of the sunsets that open from here, this one can easily compete with the observation platform at Phromthep Cape.
reference Information
You can get to the temple from 8 am to 10 pm, and you can admire the sunset from the observation deck at the foot of the Big Buddha, starting at about 18:30 pm. Entrance to both the temple and the site is completely free.
You can get to the temple complex from on a rented bike or car, turning left on the ring to the side, and at the traffic light after 100 meters to the left, and follow the sign for 6-7 km. Then you can climb the mountain on foot, or you can use the services of a tuk-tuk.
In terms of clothing, the beach option is not welcome, but even if you look inappropriate, you will be offered a sarong. When you go to ask for blessings from the monks, be sure to squat so that your head is in no case higher than theirs.
View on the map
The Big Buddha in Phuket or, as it is also called, the Big Buddha in Phuket, is a huge Buddhist temple located on a mountain in such a way that it can be seen from almost anywhere in Phuket. A large Buddha statue rises on top of Mount Nakaked at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level and at the same time is a beautiful viewing platform for tourists, since it is from here that stunning views of Phuket and the Andaman Sea open up. The Big Buddha in Phuket is one of the main attractions, almost all tourists come here, and a visit to the Big Buddha temple is included in the main tour of the island.
- On your own on a moped or car
This is the most basic and easy way get to Big Buddha. On the map at the end of the article, you can see where the Big Buddha temple complex is located, put a dot in your maps and get directions. Be careful on the road - it will go uphill in a small serpentine, you will also pass the famous temple in Phuket - Wat Chalong. The road is not difficult pavement good and you will not be difficult to get there on your own.
- As part of
The main sightseeing tour of Phuket necessarily includes a visit to the Big Buddha temple complex. The only difference from the first method is that you will be limited in time. This method is suitable for those who are afraid to take a moped or car, or for those who first came to Thailand and have not yet figured out what's what 🙂
- By taxi or tuk-tuk
You can take a taxi or tuk tuk to go to Big Buddha. The cost from the beaches of Kata, Karon or Patong will be approximately 500-600 baht one way. From other beaches, the cost, respectively, will be different.
- Walking distance from Kata or Karon beaches
Some people go to the Big Buddha temple complex directly from Kata or Karon beaches! Probably, they decide to test themselves, but will they be able to reach? 🙂 One way trip is about 2 hours and of course depends on the sports training of each person. In this case, I do not recommend going in the very heat and even uphill. The best time would be either early morning or close to sunset. Such a walking route is described in detail in other forums, for example, on the Vinsky forum.
Dress code for visiting the temple complex Big Buddha
In order to be allowed into the Big Buddha temple complex, you need to take care of your clothes in advance or take clothes at the entrance. Girls must cover their shoulders and knees, and it is also not recommended to come in beachwear. I only knew about closed knees, so I took only one pareo with me, I had an open dress on top, but at the same time I tried to cover as much of it as possible with my hair. 🙂 But I was worried in vain, they let me in everywhere and didn’t say anything. But I still recommend that you wear clothes with covered shoulders and knees.
Opening hours and cost of visiting.
The Big Buddha is open daily from 6 am to 7 pm, and the visit is completely free, including parking for mopeds and cars.
Big Buddha in Phuket
The construction of the Big Buddha temple complex began in 2002 and continues to this day. The fact is that the Big Buddha is built solely on donations from tourists and local residents. The statue of the Big Buddha itself has been completed, but the construction of the complex itself is still underway. The Big Buddha statue in Phuket was erected in honor of the highly revered King of Thailand, Pumpion Adulyadetta, who died in 2016. The height of the Big Buddha statue is 45 meters and its width is 25 meters.
The temple complex Big Buddha consists of 3 levels. The first level is parking for cars and mopeds, souvenir shops, as well as toilets.
The second level is a large hall, which contains various Buddhist shrines, as well as posters that tell the story of the construction of the temple. A monk is also sitting here, who ties a red thread for good luck to everyone. You can also buy a tile here, write a wish on it, and your tile will be lined with a Buddha statue in the future. A small tile costs 300 baht, a large one costs 1000 baht.
Here, on the second level, you can make a donation and take 37 coins, then throw them into bowls and make a wish.
Well, on the first level there is the statue of the Big Buddha itself, to which a beautiful wide staircase leads. It also offers a beautiful view of the Panwa Peninsula, Phuket Town and the Andaman Sea.
Under the statue of the Big Buddha is the entrance to the temple, but we did not go there. Still, we have a different faith.
Observation deck at the Big Buddha in Phuket
Upstairs, the Big Buddha has Observation deck overlooking Phuket, the cape and other islands.
There are always a lot of tourists here, and in order to take pictures and be in the frame without other people, you need to try very hard. 🙂
The views from the observation deck at the Big Buddha are really impressive! In the distance, the water merges with the sky, forming the horizon. You can also clearly see how green Phuket is.
You may also see some monkeys, so be on the lookout! Monkeys are very quirky and can easily steal your cap, hat, glasses, camera and even flip flops! 🙂 We saw monkeys, but not very close, apparently, in the very heat they are too lazy to come out of the shadows.
Upstairs, at the very statue of the Big Buddha, you can see a lot of hearts with inscriptions fluttering in the wind. You can also buy such a heart for 100 baht and write your names or any wish and hang it with other hearts.
Next to the Big Buddha is another Buddha statue, only made of gold and smaller in size - only 12 meters. This statue was built by Thais in honor of the Queen of Thailand - Sikirit.
The Big Buddha in Phuket is a large white Buddha statue that sits on top of a high hill. The Big Buddha statue in Phuket is certainly impressive. Thailand is mainly a Buddhist country, so there are many Buddhist temples, although Phuket also has a large Muslim minority and many Thai-Chinese families. So mosques, Chinese temples and even Orthodox Church you will also find on this island.
There are several Buddha statues in Phuket, but the Big Buddha is the largest of them. This is a large white marble statue located on the top of Nakkerd hill in the south of the island near Chalong. Despite the fact that this attraction appeared on the island of Phuket quite a long time ago, it is still considered unfinished. Although the construction of the statue itself has already been completed, there is still construction work going on along the edges of the square around it.
Today, many excursions on the island include a visit to the Big Buddha, so there are quite a lot of people here. If you want to get to the Big Buddha on your own, then we advise you to go here either early in the morning or closer to sunset.
The height of the Big Buddha in Phuket
The statue of the Big Buddha itself has a height of 45 meters. When you stand directly next to this statue, you feel all its greatness. As for the height of the hill on which the statue is located, it is approximately 400 meters. Therefore, it turns out that the upper part of the statue rises 445 meters above sea level.
Construction of the Big Buddha
A few years ago, an ambitious project was developed, which involved the construction of a huge statue of the Buddha, which should dominate the southern part of Phuket. The implementation of the Big Buddha project in Phuket has been very slow. At first, there were bureaucratic problems that seemed insurmountable. First, the area where the statue and other objects were planned to be built is a protected area. Secondly, and this follows from the first problem, something had to be done with restrictions on the height of construction, because according to the laws of Thailand, buildings cannot be built in protected areas, the height of which exceeds the height of the forest cover.
In addition, the initial funding estimates for the project were as monumental as the proposed monument itself! Nevertheless, formed by a group friends who came up with the idea to build a huge monument on top of the hill, the foundation helped overcome these financial problems. Money came from all over the world, from local residents, from Thais from other provinces and from foreign tourists. As a result, the money received was enough to build two statues, which took 30 million baht. The smaller one is 12 meters high and consists of 22 tons of bronze, although it is called the golden Buddha statue. The cost of this statue was 8 million baht. It is located next to the giant Buddha statue and overlooks Chalong Bay and Phang Nga Bay.
The entire Phuket Big Buddha complex covers an area of ​​7.8 acres and is surrounded by beautiful rainforest.
Work on the construction of the Big Buddha has been going on for several years and is going very slowly. The fact is that the work is carried out mainly on donations, and they have recently become small. Now the area near the Big Buddha is often filled with tourists, although there were not so many people here before. There was a large parking lot, as well as stalls with food and drinks. Everything goes to the fact that the Big Buddha in Phuket will turn into a commercial project.
As soon as you approach the Big Buddha, you will see a huge bell that hangs below the statue. You can then walk through the temple area where souvenirs are sold and there are photos showing the move construction works for many years.
There are many donation boxes near the statue, and you can contribute to the construction of this huge statue. As far as I know, the names of many sponsors of the construction of this facility are carved on a special plate.
It is worth noting that there is also a golden Buddha statue next to the Big Buddha statue. Although it is quite large (about 12 meters high), it pales in comparison to the main statue.
Entry fee
At the moment, visiting the Big Buddha complex in Phuket is free. It is possible to make donations, but in fact, few people do this for the simple reason that tourists simply do not always notice donation boxes, and when they do, they cannot understand why they are there. I confess that I only saw these boxes during my third visit.
Big Buddha on the map of Phuket
Big Buddha is located about 6 km from the main road in Chalong area. To better understand where the statue is located, we advise you to look at its location on the map of Phuket.How to get to Big Buddha
You can drive up to the Big Buddha by car or bike, as the road leading to the statue is paved. We only advise you to be especially careful when riding a bike, especially during or after rain.
How to get to the Big Buddha in Phuket if you are not planning to rent a car or bike? In this case, you can either order a taxi or go on a sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the Big Buddha. Some companies in Phuket offer transfers from popular Phuket beaches to Big Buddha and back at a relatively low price.
Observation deck near the Big Buddha
It is no secret that many tourists come to the Big Buddha not because they are interested in it, but to enjoy the beautiful view from the top of the hill and take beautiful photos. From the observation deck of the Big Buddha, a beautiful view of the island of Phuket opens up, from here you can see the streets of Phuket Town, Kat and Karon beaches, Chalong Bay and much more. The panoramic view from the observation deck near the Big Buddha is truly breathtaking. Looking east on a clear day, you can see the islands of Phang Nga Bay and even the Phi Phi Islands. Sunrise and sunset are also incredibly beautiful when viewed from this vantage point.
Seeing the Big Buddha in Phuket is a must for every tourist. I've been there twice. The first time we were taken there by Guzelechka, and we walked for about 3 hours, the second time we were there with a free sightseeing tour, which I wrote about, and they gave us only 25 minutes.
Big Buddha is one of the most famous and visited attractions in Phuket. I will tell you what I myself learned during my two trips. I don’t know what they write about this place on the Internet, I didn’t even look for it or read it, so this is my personal opinion.
The place is very crowded, and at the same time spiritual, if you feel the spirit of Buddhism here and feel the atmosphere of calm and tranquility. Dress appropriately as you will be visiting a temple, meaning women should cover their shoulders and legs. At the entrance they give out special scarves with which you can hide behind.
At the very beginning there were stalls with food and drinks and an exhibition of photographs of the King's family and something else. The first interesting object on the territory is a large Gong.
Every tourist considers it his duty to rub this gong. They say that if a person has pure karma, then the gong will emit a loud buzz. According to other stories, when you rub the gong, you need to make a wish, if you hear a buzz, then it will come true. There is a very controversial point on which side to rub the gong. If it is concave, it “sings” louder, if it is curved, it is not so easy to make it buzz. How exactly to rub - everyone decides for himself. I rubbed, as if rowing water with my paws, heard such a welcome buzz, and with a calm soul and the conviction that I had pure karma, I went on.
Some rub in a circle, and some hit him with all their might, which, in my personal opinion, is completely unacceptable, you still need to show at least some respect for the culture of the country where you came to rest.
Then we get to the observation platform, where the Big Buddha himself sits high. It is made of white marble. Naturally, a photo session of the Big Buddha begins, oneself against its background, as well as the views that open from a bird's eye view.
By the way, about the views. They didn't impress me at all. Nothing special.
And it's even worse in real life
We take pictures with the Buddha, then another with some sculpture, to which, judging by the remnants of incense, the locals pray.
Then we go to the temple, if you can call it that. To be honest, I don’t know what kind of room this is, but let it be a small temple. There is such a place in front of it, locals also pray here.
Here our children ran, played, then sat, rested and made faces.
Marble tiles are sold at the entrance to the temple, on which you can write your desire, this tile will soon become part of the Big Buddha complex. By the way, this complex is being built exclusively with donated money, so its construction has been going on since 2004 and dragged on for many years. Construction is still going on and progressing very slowly. The price of a large 20 * 20 cm tile is 1000 baht, if I'm not mistaken. Small tiles are cheaper, about 200 baht.
Next we have another ritual. Immediately after the shops with tiles and souvenirs, there is a table on which there are 37 pots. Near the bowls with coins. You need to take any bowl with coins, make a wish and start throwing one coin into the pots, starting from the first. The pots are numbered. If you have exactly 37 coins, or 1, 2 or 3 coins remain in the pot, then the wish will come true. If there are coins less than 37 or more than 40, alas, the wish will not come true.
You need to take off your shoes, kneel, make a wish. When your turn comes, you need to go on your knees to the monk, stretch out your hand, and he will tie a multi-colored lace on your hand, knock on your head with some kind of stick, and say a prayer. They say when the ribbon is untied, your wish will come true or will come true. I strongly believe in this. Ribbons are untied differently for everyone, someone walks with her for a year, someone for a month, and someone for a week. Most importantly, you can not remove it yourself. By the way, it is very important, they say, that it is better to make a wish not material, but spiritual. That is, not to ask for a house, a summer house and a car, but to ask for health, well-being, harmony in the family and soul, and so on. And remember that a woman should not touch a monk in any case.
There is still a tree growing here, where people attach money. tie some ribbons, pray, make a wish. I didn't do this.
Everything seems to be here. We go to the second level. He climbs the stairs.
We get to the platform where the Big Buddha is already visible closer, the Golden Buddha sits next to it, the temple itself is located here, and there are also two gongs on which you can try your luck.
By the way, it is better to photograph the Big Buddha from this place, and not at the first level. Near the golden Buddha, people pray, there were the remains of incense and a scattering of coins. The children first played with the coins, then they started catching fish with incense sticks.
They were very pleased. While the kids were having fun, the moms were taking pictures)
Then we went to the temple, construction is in the middle stage, outside there are many statues of various deities, in bowls in front of which people throw coins. There is also a huge pile of tiles with written desires. A monk is sitting inside, this is a figure, but he is really alive. There is a sense of calm here, it is somehow very good here.
Then we went to the descent, but on the way down the stairs you can still turn into an interesting place with a beautiful view.
Here we met the monks and took pictures with them. Probably, they should have been given money, only now it occurred to me ...
Well, actually this ended our tour lasting 3 hours. We walked together towards the car.
Big Buddha or Big Buddha Phuket is a park of Buddhist monks located on one of the highest points in Phuket - the top of Mount Nagakerd, Karon subdistrict.
Big Buddha is not just a statue, but a whole complex, which includes: a hollow statue of the Big Buddha, which can be seen from almost all the southern beaches of Phuket; an open area, where, in addition to Thai shrines and attributes, there are several viewing platforms that offer an almost 360-degree view, including the southern part of the island, Chalong Bay and the surrounding area; as well as an indoor temple located on the lower platform of the Big Buddha complex.
In our opinion, Big Buddha is the most impressive and main attraction of Phuket.
You can visit the God Buddha complex with one of the many sightseeing tours around the island, as well as on your own: by taxi, rented bike or on foot. We will tell you about how to independently walk to the Big Buddha from the beaches of Kata and Karon a little lower, but for now
Big Buddha Complex, Phuket
At the bottom of the complex is a fairly large parking area. There are also tents with soft drinks and some simple snacks. And the statue of the Big Buddha itself is located with its back to visitors, it is from this place that the inspection of the complex begins.
Try coconut ice cream. Very delicious!
Here is a monument to the King of Thailand Rama and a magic gong. Similar gongs are popular in some temples. Thais say that stroking the hand can make the gong sing, but it will sing only under the hands of a person who is pure in soul.
And here before us, in all its beauty and power, a huge snow-white statue of the Buddha appears. The Buddha statue is 25.45 meters wide and 45 meters high, a reinforced concrete structure adorned with white Burmese marble.
A wide staircase leads up to the statue. Above only barefoot. Shoes must be left at the first lower step. Not everyone does this, many wear shoes, however, to honor the sacred traditions of a foreign country, as well as to show respect for local customs and residents, we personally consider it the first duty of every guest. Concrete slabs in the sun heat up so much that they burn the feet, but there is nothing to do, we endure, somewhere we move in dashes, but we move on.
Below, by the stairs, an observation deck with breathtaking panoramic views
Climbing the stairs, a panorama of amazing beauty opens up before your eyes again.
You can also go inside the big Buddha. In front of the entrance are shrines and statues.
There is also a souvenir shop here. You can buy a souvenir as a keepsake or contribute to the construction of this temple by making a donation.
From souvenirs: figurines of elephants and Buddha, various magnets and talismans. You can also buy a “golden” bell with a leaf, then write a cherished wish or just names (your own, loved ones and relatives) on a piece of paper and hang it on the territory of the complex.
The construction of the Big Buddha began in the early 2000s and before today not completed, finishing and interior work. The fact is that the temple is built on donations, and, as we all know, such a thing can be long-term.
You can also contribute to the construction of the complex by buying a small marble tile and writing on it a wish, desire, names, whatever you want, then this tablet is used to decorate the decoration of the temple. Naturally, the inscription made with a marker will soon fade (wipe off), and then disappear altogether, leaving behind only pure marble, but that’s not the point…
Inside the Big Buddha, at present, there is practically nothing, apart from ongoing work and a few statues.
Near Big Buddha
In the open area around the Big Buddha, several more viewing points are concentrated
On the left side of the statue of the Big Buddha, you can see the image of the Buddha made of brass, other shrines and statues of the Buddha
There are also places for recreation and an observation deck khao Nakkerd view point, which offers stunning views of the southern part of the island and neighboring small islands. Perhaps these are the most gorgeous views that can be seen from the territory of the Big Buddha complex.
From here, a narrow, winding staircase leads down. During the descent, you can see several statues, one of which is the statue of the goddess of earth and abundance, Vasuntharu, who pours water from her hair.
Going down, we get straight to the current temple. Here are the same souvenirs, bells, Thai herbs, oils, etc., only the prices are slightly lower than on the upper platform.
There is a journal in the temple where you can write a wish to the monks.
A monk sits at the back of the temple. Anyone can approach him, sit on his knees in front of him, and he, in turn, will bless you and, sprinkled with water, wish you good luck and tie a bright braided rope (bracelet) on your hand - the holy protective thread sai sin. Sai sin serves as an amulet - protection from the evil eye and evil spirits. You, while the monk is tying the rope, do not waste time in vain, but make a wish. It is believed that the wish will certainly come true!
Which hand should I tie the bracelet on? There are two versions of this question:
1. The right side of the body is considered male, the left - female, so sai sin is tied to men on the right hand, women - on the left.
2. First you need to decide whether you want to get rid of all the bad or attract all the good. In the first case, the talisman is tied to left hand, in the second - on the right. And if you still can’t decide unambiguously, then you can tie two ropes - one for each hand.
There is a bowl next to the monk, and before leaving, as a token of gratitude, put the money in this very bowl. As we noticed, they mostly throw banknotes with a face value of 20-50 baht. It is believed that you should not remove the sai shin until he himself leaves you.
For those who wish - meditation for 7 minutes
Before leaving, you can throw a coin into each of the 37 bowls, making some other wish.
Schematic map of the Big Buddha complex
Opening hours
Daily from 06:00 am to 19:00 pm. Entrance is public and free.
Dress code
Still, this is a shrine and a temple, which means you can’t enter in beach and too open clothes, as well as in T-shirts and T-shirts with offensive inscriptions and / or images. Shoulders should be covered, it is also considered indecent to go in short shorts and skirts, ideally knees should be covered. If suddenly you are dressed inappropriately, at the entrance you will be given a sarong for free - a scarf that can be used to cover bare shoulders or legs. Before leaving, the sarong must be returned.
How to get to the Big Buddha - on foot from the beaches of Kata and Karon
From the beaches of Kata and Karon, we exit onto the wide road Patak Rd, which passes above the line of beach strips. Following this road, from Kata beach towards Karon, and from Karon towards Kata, the streets will go uphill along the way, the landmarks will be “BIG BUDDHA” signs. You can also get to these lapels by public bus "Phuket town - Karon - Kata". The path to the Big Buddha from Kata beach is approximately 8 kilometers, from Karon a little less - about 6.5 kilometers.
