Big Buddha Phuket and the white marble Buddha above Nakkerd Hill

Big Buddha Phuket is a vast white marble Buddha statue and temple complex on Nakkerd Hill in southern Phuket, looking out over the island and the Andaman Sea. Rising high above Karon, Kata and Chalong Bay, the seated figure forms one of Thailand’s more recognisable hilltop Buddha images and anchors a terrace of shrines, halls and viewpoints on the ridge.

A white marble Buddha above the forested ridge

The main Buddha statue at Big Buddha Phuket depicts Gautama Buddha seated in the Maravija posture, with the figure’s hands and robe arranged in the earth-touching pose familiar from many Thai temples.Phuket Big Buddha The statue stands about 45 m (148 ft) tall and a little over 25 m (82 ft) across at its widest point, so that the seated figure rises clearly above the surrounding terrace and low buildings.45 metre-tall and 25.45 metre-wide statue

Structurally, the Buddha image has a reinforced concrete core covered with thin tiles of Burmese white marble, giving the surfaces a pale, finely jointed appearance.concrete covered with Burmese white marble The marble cladding extends over the robe and body, with darker materials used for the statue’s eyes and other details. Below the main figure, subsidiary images and dedication plaques line the terrace, while nearby halls and platforms carry further Buddha statues in different poses.

A temple complex on Nakkerd Hill in southern Phuket

Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict in Mueang Phuket District, a ridge that rises inland between the beaches of Karon and Kata and the sheltered waters of Chalong Bay.Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict The site lies at an elevation of roughly 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, so that the terrace looks out across the southern part of Phuket and, on clear days, towards the islands scattered offshore.nearly 400 metres above sea level

The official name of the statue is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, a Pali and Thai phrase that translates as “the Cherished Auspicious Lord Buddha atop N?ga Hill”.Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakakiri Around the base, the temple precinct includes Wat Kitthi Sangkharam (often known as Wat Kata), small shrines, donation boxes and areas where monks receive offerings.temple complex Wat Kitthi Sankaram The hilltop road climbs from near the Chalong Roundabout up through forest and scrub to reach the main car park and terraces, with the higher platforms arranged to face towards Ao Chalong Bay.

From early 2000s construction to a completed hilltop image

Work on Big Buddha Phuket is documented as having begun in the early 2000s, with a planning phase around 2002 and construction of the statue on Nakkerd Hill starting in 2004.planning phase around 2002 and construction starting in 2004 Accounts describe the main Buddha figure as structurally complete by the late 2000s, with further work on the base, terrace buildings and surrounding halls carrying on in stages as funds allowed.construction at Nakkerd Hill began in 2004

In size, Phuket Big Buddha ranks among the taller Buddha statues in Thailand and has been described as the third-tallest Buddha statue in the country.third-tallest Buddha statue in Thailand The project has been supported over the years by donations from visitors and local residents, with acknowledgement stones and plaques marking contributions around parts of the terrace.project funded largely by donations A smaller, darker-toned Buddha image stands nearby as a contrast to the main white marble figure, and additional statues, bells and prayer areas line the paths around the complex.

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

• Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill between Karon, Kata and Chalong Bay in southern Phuket, reached by a steep uphill road signposted from near the Chalong Roundabout.
• The hilltop site lies at around 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, with stairways and terraces forming the immediate approach to the statue, including steps up from the car park area to the main platform.stairways and terraces forming the approach
• The temple complex stands outside the European Union; 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 in Karon Subdistrict in Mueang Phuket District, between the coastal areas of Karon, Kata and Chalong Bay in southern Thailand.

What should visitors expect when they arrive?

Visitors encounter a large hilltop temple complex with the white marble Buddha statue, stairways and terraces, smaller shrines, halls and open viewing platforms above the surrounding forested slopes.

What makes Big Buddha Phuket distinctive among Thai Buddha statues?

The combination of its 45 m (148 ft) height, white Burmese marble cladding, hilltop setting at roughly 400 m (1,312 ft) elevation and role as the centrepiece of a working temple complex gives Big Buddha Phuket a distinctive presence on Phuket’s southern ridge.