Thailand is known for its culture, cuisine, markets, and so much more, but despite such exquisiteness, the land will be incomplete without one of its prominent landmarks: The Phuket Big Buddha.
Phuket Big Buddha is a Burmese jade white marble statue almost 45 meters tall that graces the Nakkerd Hills of Thailand, blessing the town of Phuket and Karon Beach. The statue is not just a landmark for the island, but Wat Kitthi Sankaram temple, which was in 2008 declared as Buddhist Treasure of Phuket" by the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.
From a landmark to a temple, shrine, and more, let's go through the charm of Phuket Big Buddha of Thailand and learn why it is suggested to be a must-visit tourist attraction point.
Located six kilometers away from Phuket town, the destination offers a breathtaking view of the towns, forests, beach, and other areas of the island. Despite being a much-visited place, the ambiance of the temple is peaceful and soothing, fostering a heavenly feel that is accompanied by the soft dharma music, jingling bells, and yellow Buddhist flags waving at the command of the wind.
The crowd at this place makes it look like a century-old shrine that people have been coming to for pilgrimage for ages, but much to tourists' surprise, Phuket Big Buddha or commonly known as Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha by the locals, is fairly new construction. Built in 2004, the statue replicates the great Buddha astonishingly well. The most stunning part of this statute shines when the sun hit, and with this and the inclination, people felt towards the statue soon made the area a temple for people to worship and get awe with the beauty that is witnessed there.
The Phuket Big Buddha is not the only statue that graces the place; a smaller golden-colored Buddha statue is also the highlight of the area with numerous other statues placed all across the area to make the place more welcoming, spiritually inclined, peaceful, and holistic in many ways.
One of the most interesting aspects of Phuket Big Buddha and the whole temple is that it thrives off the generous donations of the locals and tourists. From maintenance to new constructions, the donations cover it all; the donation boxes are displayed in the hall of the Phuket Big Buddha along with the history, teaching, and other Buddhist way of life affirmations along the pathway.
After the tour of the site, many heads to the Nakkerd Sea View Restaurant, situated near the big Buddha, for exquisite food, incredible view, and relaxing purposes before heading miles down.
Phuket Big Buddha
Phuket Big Buddha is a religious destination; hence it is accepted to wear decent, respectful clothing for all to honor the sacredness of the place. Covering yourself during the visit is highly recommended, and wearing comfortable footwear is necessary since a hike is needed to reach the temple.
As far as reaching the place is considered, the roads to Nakkerd Hills are in decent condition, and scooters, tuk-tuk, and other such small commutes can make their way to the top with ease. Many young individuals enjoying hiking to the place but don't get tempted; it may be a budget-friendly option but very tiring and time-consuming.
All in all, from a spiritual inclination to witnessing a big Buddha statue to viewing the most breathtaking sunset to leaving heartwarming messages for the loved ones who passed away to a day of solace and peace, the Phuket Big Buddha is a must-visit place for all.
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