Big Buddha Phuket and the white marble hill above the Andaman Sea

Big Buddha Phuket rises above Phuket as a white marble landmark and hillside temple complex; the statue and its terrace reveal how land and sea meet below.

Big Buddha Phuket is a white marble Buddha statue and temple terrace high above Phuket’s southern coastline, where a concrete figure and a wooded hill share the same exposed ridge. The statue’s official name, Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, ties this hilltop image of the Buddha to Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict and makes it a formal religious site as well as a viewpoint.

A seated Buddha in white marble

The central figure at Big Buddha Phuket is a seated image of Gautama Buddha, cast in concrete and clad in pale stone that gives the hillside a distinctive profile against the sky. The statue depicts the Buddha in the Maravijaya posture, seated with crossed legs and one hand touching the ground, and it takes the form of a serene figure facing out over the surrounding landscape.The statue depicts Gautama The head rises from a broad base and the shoulders widen out above a rounded torso, so that the figure reads clearly as a Buddha image even when seen from the lowlands.

Construction at Nakkerd Hill began in 2004, when the concrete core of Big Buddha Phuket was first raised above the ridge.Construction started in 2004 The finished 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 dominates the circular terrace below.A 45 metre tall statue Its surface is covered with thin tiles of Burmese white marble, which catch the light differently as the day progresses and draw attention to the folds of the robe and the smooth surfaces of the shoulders and head.

Nakkerd Hill and the temple terrace

Big Buddha Phuket stands on the crest of Nakkerd Hill, one of the higher points in southern Phuket between the bays of the Andaman Sea and the lowland around Chalong. The hill reaches an elevation of around 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, and the statue base is reached by a road that climbs from the coastal plain up through forest and scrub to the temple precinct.The hill rises to nearly 400 metres The official address places the site in Karon, Mueang Phuket District, with a signed turn-off from the main road near Chalong Roundabout.The access road begins near Chalong

The temple complex around Big Buddha Phuket includes a broad upper terrace that wraps around the base of the statue, a lower level with smaller halls and structures, and a series of steps that connect the two. The official temple name, Wat Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkhon Akanakkhiri, marks the hilltop as an active Buddhist monastery with resident monks and areas set aside for prayer and offerings.An active Buddhist temple Around the statue, visitors encounter prayer bells, smaller Buddha images and areas where donated tiles and plaques record the names of contributors, reflecting the role of donations in the construction of the hilltop statue.Construction funded by donations

Views over southern Phuket and the Andaman Sea

Big Buddha Phuket shares its hilltop with a series of viewing areas that look out in different directions across the island and the surrounding sea. From the terraces on the western side, the eye follows the line of beaches near Karon and Kata, where strips of sand separate the Andaman Sea from the built-up coastline of Phuket’s south.The statue sits between Karon and Kata On the eastern side, the view drops towards Ao Chalong and the moorings that line the bay, with the forested hills and smaller islands of the Andaman scattered towards the horizon.

The height and position of Nakkerd Hill mean that Big Buddha Phuket is visible from many points in southern Phuket, particularly from the coastal areas around Karon, Kata and Chalong, where the white figure breaks the ridge line.A white marble statue visible from beaches From the terrace, the relationship reverses: the statue becomes a fixed point above a broad panorama of sea, coastline and town, and the approach road, forest and smaller shrines create a contrast between the enclosed spaces of the temple and the wider landscape beyond.

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

• Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill between Karon and Chalong on Phuket, reached by a steep road that branches off Chaofa West Road near Chalong Roundabout.
• The upper terrace around the statue is reached by a flight of steps from the lower level, so visitors encounter a stair climb as part of the approach.
• The hilltop is exposed to sun and wind, and the terraces are paved, so light clothing that covers shoulders and knees is usual among visitors.
• 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 located?

Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict, between the coastal areas of Karon and Kata and the lowland around Chalong on the island of Phuket.

What can visitors expect on a visit?

Visitors encounter a large seated Buddha statue clad in white marble, a temple terrace with smaller shrines and bells, and open views across southern Phuket and the Andaman Sea.

What makes Big Buddha Phuket distinctive?

Big Buddha Phuket combines a 45 m (148 ft) tall Buddha statue, white marble cladding and a hilltop position at around 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, setting it apart from many other hillside temples in the region.