Big Buddha Phuket and the white marble figure above Nakkerd Hill
Published on 09/23/2026 at 10:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Big Buddha Phuket is a seated white marble figure on Nakkerd Hill in southern Phuket. The statue rises 45 m (148 ft) above its platform, making its curved shoulders, robe and calm face visible across the surrounding bays.
Known formally as Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, it combines a reinforced-concrete core with Burmese white marble cladding. Its scale, elevated position and pale surface define the landmark above Chalong, Karon and Kata.
Big Buddha Phuket: a white figure on Nakkerd Hill
The statue occupies the summit of Nakkerd Hill, a ridge between Chalong Bay and the west-coast beaches of Karon and Kata. The hill rises to roughly 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, placing the image above much of southern Phuket.
Big Buddha Phuket shows Gautama Buddha seated in the Maravichai posture. The right hand reaches towards the ground in the earth-touching gesture, while the cross-legged figure faces across the island and the Andaman coast.
Concrete, marble and the making of a landmark
Construction began in 2004, after the project’s foundation stage in the early 2000s. The statue’s structural body is reinforced concrete, covered with thin pieces of white marble from Myanmar. The statue’s recorded dimensions are 45 m in height and 25.45 m in width.
The surface is not a single block of stone. Small marble pieces follow the folds of the robe and the rounded surfaces of the shoulders, arms and head. From close by, the cladding forms a field of separate pale tiles; from the coast, the figure reads as one continuous white silhouette.
Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri and the temple setting
Big Buddha Phuket forms part of a Buddhist temple complex associated with Wat Kitthi Sangkharam in Karon. The formal name Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri identifies the principal image, while Big Buddha Phuket is the English name used by travellers.
The hilltop includes the statue, a broad terrace and religious buildings connected with the site. Smaller images, columns, bells and decorative details surround the central figure, creating a setting that is more extensive than the statue alone. The statue’s construction history places its beginnings in the early twenty-first century.
The view is part of the physical character of Nakkerd Hill. Chalong lies below the eastern side, while Kata and Karon extend towards the west. The terrace looks across wooded slopes, coastal settlements, bays and open sea.
Visiting Big Buddha Phuket: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill in Karon, southern Phuket, between Chalong and the west-coast beaches of Kata and Karon. The approach follows Soi Yot Sane 1 from Chaofa West Road.
- The site is elevated at roughly 400 m (1,312 ft). The final approach includes an uphill road and walking across a hilltop temple terrace.
- The statue is part of a Buddhist religious complex. Clothing and behaviour should reflect the setting, particularly around worship areas and images.
- 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.
Searching for Big Buddha Phuket on social platforms
These links open searches for Big Buddha Phuket on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Big Buddha Phuket
Where is Big Buddha Phuket?
Big Buddha Phuket is on Nakkerd Hill in Karon, southern Phuket. The ridge lies between Chalong on the east and Kata and Karon on the west.
What can visitors expect at the site?
The hilltop contains the seated Buddha, a temple terrace and associated religious buildings. The approach is uphill, and the elevated setting includes views across southern Phuket and the Andaman coast.
What makes Big Buddha Phuket distinctive?
The statue reaches 45 m (148 ft) and is clad in white Burmese marble over reinforced concrete. Its seated form and pale surface create a clear landmark above the surrounding bays.
