Big Buddha Phuket and the white marble Buddha above Nakkerd Hill

Big Buddha Phuket rises above Phuket as a 45 m white marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, pairing a vast seated figure with a hilltop terrace over the Andaman Sea.

Big Buddha Phuket is a large seated Buddha statue in white marble on Nakkerd Hill in southern Phuket, Thailand, formally known as Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri. Completed in the early twenty-first century, the figure reaches about 45 m (148 ft) in height and turns the ridge between Chalong, Karon and Kata into a conspicuous religious landmark above the Andaman coast.

A 45 metre seated Buddha in white marble

The centrepiece of Big Buddha Phuket is the seated Buddha image, built with a reinforced concrete core and clad in thin tiles of pale Burmese white marble.reinforced concrete core and clad The statue is recorded as reaching about 45 m (148 ft) in height and a width of a little over 25 m (82 ft) across the lap, so that the seated figure fills the skyline above the hilltop platform when seen from the bays below.45 m (148 ft) in height

The marble used on the outer surface is documented as coming from Myanmar and cut into many small tiles that follow the curves of the robe and body, giving the statue a pale, almost uniform skin when seen from a distance.white marble tiles from Myanmar The figure sits in the Maravichai or Maravijaya posture, with the Buddha seated cross-legged and the right hand reaching towards the ground in the earth-touching gesture, a form associated with the moment of enlightenment.Maravichai posture and dimensions

Nakkerd Hill and the temple terrace above 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 between Chalong and Kata The site lies at an elevation of roughly 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, which gives the terrace wide views over the southern part of the island and the surrounding sea.

The statue forms part of a broader temple complex on the ridge, with stairways, low halls and terraces arranged around the main platform beneath the Buddha image.temple complex and terrace The official address places the site within Karon Subdistrict, and descriptions highlight its location above the junctions around Chalong with road approaches from the coastal side and the town side.Karon Subdistrict address

Construction in the early 2000s and the formal name

Work on Big Buddha Phuket is documented as having begun in the early 2000s, with the project entering its planning phase around 2002 and construction of the statue on Nakkerd Hill starting in 2004.planning phase around 2002 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 afterwards as funds allowed.main statue structurally complete

The statue’s formal name, Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri or Phra Phutthamingmongkol Akenakkiri in another transliteration, links Big Buddha Phuket to Thai Buddhist naming traditions and appears across English-language descriptions of the site.formal name Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri The project has been associated in Thai sources with monastic figures such as Phra Phrommangkalachan, whose involvement is recorded in accounts of the early construction period.association with Phra Phrommangkalachan

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

• Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict in Mueang Phuket District in southern Phuket, reached by road approaches from Chalong and the coastal areas of Karon and Kata.
• 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.
• The terrain on the ridge combines paved terraces and staircases with exposed areas that can be bright and open, so visitors encounter changes in gradient and elevation over the short distances between the lower levels and the statue base.
• Thailand’s official language is Thai and the currency is the 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 in southern Phuket, between the areas of Chalong, Karon and Kata.

What can visitors expect when they reach the site?

Visitors find a large seated Buddha statue in white Burmese marble on a hilltop terrace, with stairways, platforms and temple structures arranged around the main figure.

What makes Big Buddha Phuket distinctive among Buddha statues in Thailand?

The combination of its 45 m (148 ft) height, white marble cladding, formal name Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri and exposed position about 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level gives the statue a conspicuous presence above southern Phuket.