Big Buddha Phuket and the white marble crown above southern Phuket

Big Buddha Phuket rises above the southern part of Phuket as a white seated Buddha in Burmese marble, set on a hilltop that has become both a temple and a viewpoint over the island. The statue, officially named Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, reaches 45 m (148 ft) in height and dominates the skyline between the beaches of Karon and Kata and the sheltered waters of Chalong Bay.

A white Buddha on Nakkerd Hill

Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill, also known as Mount Nagakerd, in the Karon Subdistrict of Mueang Phuket District in southern Thailand. The statue occupies a broad summit above Chalong, with the hill rising to nearly 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level between the island’s western and eastern coasts.Phuket Big Buddha From the approach road the Buddha is visible long before reaching the top, appearing as a pale figure against the green slopes that surround it.

The statue depicts Gautama Buddha seated in the Maravichai posture, with crossed legs and the right hand extended towards the earth. Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri is constructed from reinforced concrete and covered with Burmese white marble that gives the figure a pale, almost luminous surface in strong sunlight.Burmese white marble At the base, the statue measures about 25.45 m (83.5 ft) across, with a broad platform supporting the seated figure and creating space for visitors to walk around the monument.

A modern hilltop temple and monument

Big Buddha Phuket is part of an active Buddhist temple complex known as Wat Kitthi Sankaram, or Wat Kata, above the southern part of the island.Wat Kitthi Sankaram (Wat Kata) The statue’s official name, Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, translates approximately as “The Cherished Auspicious Lord Buddha atop N?ga Hill”, a reference to the hill’s name and the religious character of the site.Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri Monks maintain the temple buildings below the statue, and visitors encounter shrines, small halls and areas for offerings as they walk around the complex.

Construction of Big Buddha Phuket began in the early 2000s, with planning recorded in 2002 and building work starting in 2004.construction began in 2004 The main Buddha statue was completed by the mid-2010s, while work on the base and surrounding structures has continued in phases funded through donations. The completed figure rises 45 m (148 ft) above the platform and ranks as the third-tallest Buddha statue in Thailand, behind the Great Buddha of Thailand in Ang Thong and Luangpho Yai.third biggest Buddha in Thailand

Views over southern Phuket from the marble crown

From the terraces around Big Buddha Phuket the landscape of southern Phuket opens in several directions. The summit on Nakkerd Hill sits between the beaches of Karon and Kata to the west and Ao Chalong Bay to the east, giving a line of sight over both the Andaman Sea and the sheltered bays on the island’s inner side.Big Buddha viewpoint On clear days the westward view extends along the coast, while the eastward view falls over boats and piers in Chalong.

The walk around the statue follows a paved path that circles the base, with sections where visitors can look up towards the marble surface and other points where the horizon and sea dominate the view. Below the main platform, further viewpoints and small structures are set into the slope, and bells, smaller Buddha figures and prayer areas mark different levels.Big Buddha, Phuket monument The interior of the statue itself is not accessible; movement takes place on the terraces and paths around the figure.

Visiting Big Buddha Phuket: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill above Chalong in southern Phuket, reached by road along Soi Yot Sane 1 from Chaofa West Road on the island’s south-eastern side.
• The approach to the summit follows a steep, winding hill road and the final section involves walking on paved surfaces and steps around the statue’s base.
• The official language is Thai and the currency is the Thai baht.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Big Buddha Phuket

Where is Big Buddha Phuket located?

Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill above Chalong in the Karon Subdistrict of Mueang Phuket District in southern Thailand, between Karon and Kata on the west and Ao Chalong Bay on the east.

What should visitors expect on a visit?

Visitors encounter a large seated Buddha clad in white marble, temple buildings and shrines on the slopes below, paved terraces around the statue and wide views over southern Phuket.

What makes Big Buddha Phuket distinctive among Buddha statues?

The combination of its 45 m (148 ft) height, its Burmese white marble cladding and its position on a hilltop nearly 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level make Big Buddha Phuket a distinctive modern Buddha monument in Thailand.