Visit Phuket Big Buddha (Phuket)

Perched on a hill between Kata and Chalong, this big white Buddha is covered with squares of marble. It is not completed yet and when you look at the design of the project, a lot of time will pass before that it is completed. That may be the reason why Phuket Big Buddha does not appear on the free maps travel agencies or Tourist Police give you. However, the place is already visited and it is a good thing because the donations of visitors who can buy small marble tile that will be placed on the building and write a message on them are necessary to finance the construction. The 45 meters high main Buddha statue is almost completed but the rest like the statue base and numerous others elements around it including a big staircase of 999 steps leading to the Buddha is till in construction. From the platform where the statue is settled, there is a magnificent view over the town and Chalong Bay.

Free admission but donations are very welcome.
Open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Big Buddha can be accessed by a little more than 4 kilometers long road which goes into the hills and is absolutly not a straight line. If it is easy to arrive at the beginning of the road leading to the Big Buddha with the Karon-Kata to Phuket town local bus, climbing to the statue is long and quite challenging, if you are walking and do not have any vehicule. So to get to the statue, it is highly recommended to have a scooter or a car or hire a taxi. Or you can try hitchhiking but it works much better to go down than to go up (we tested it). If you are traveling by car, go to Chalong, then you won't not miss the many signs indicating the way to the Big Buddha.
The Big Buddha, with its almost 360 degrees view is one of the best places to watch the sunset on Phuket island.

Phuket Big Buddha is a temple and when you visit a temple in Thailand there are some rules to know and follow:

• Dress properly (knees and shoulders should be covered)
• Take off your shoes when entering the buildings
• Be quiet
• Don't hug or kiss
• Don't point your feet to Buddha's image
• Don't smoke