Big Buddha Phuket Reopens! and we hope for good this time…
Big Buddha Phuket is a 45-metre white marble statue sitting on top of Nakkerd Hill, visible from most beaches in the south of Phuket island. It’s one of the most visited landmarks in Phuket and a place of active worship. I watched them build it between 2002 and 2004. Back then, it was just scaffolding and a dirt road that tested your suspension and driving skills, especially on the way down! See our full guide to things to do in Phuket for more.
Big Buddha Reopened on March 3rd 2026!
The site closed on 23 August 2024 after a landslide killed 13 people. It briefly reopened on January 1st 2026, but closed again after just 3 days, generating a lot of frustration among visitors and locals. It reopened again on March 3rd 2026, for Makha Bucha Day. Let’s hope it stays open this time.
Photos Taken March 3rd 2026
From Jungle to an Iconic Landmark of Phuket – How it Started
When I moved to Phuket in 1994, Nakkerd Hill was just another forested hilltop with nothing on it. I first rode my motorbike up there in the early 2000s when construction had just started. The road was a dirt track cutting through the jungle, steep and rutted. Getting up was challenging, but coming back down was the scary part, especially after they started pouring fresh concrete in sections. There were no restaurants or bars along the road, no tourists, no signs pointing the way.
At the top, the Buddha was just a concrete skeleton, nothing you could really recognise yet. But the view was already stunning, even then. I remember standing up there thinking this was a nice spot, with no idea it would become one of the most visited places in Phuket. Watching it transform over the years, from bare concrete to white marble gleaming above Chalong Bay, has been one of those quiet privileges of living here for three decades.
The View That Never Gets Old
The official name is Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, “Happiness on Top of Nakkerd Mountain,” but nobody calls it that :).
People come for the majestic white marble Buddha visible from everywhere in the south of the island, and for the panoramic views from 400 metres up. Many made donations to buy a marble tile with their name on it, contributing to a project built entirely by the community.
During the construction years, I used to ride up often, especially at sunset. The statue was still taking shape, but the view was already there. One evening, a massive thunderstorm rolled in over Chalong Bay. I stood on the hilltop and watched lightning strike across the water below. No tourists, no crowds, just the storm and the half-built Buddha behind me. That moment stayed with me.
The view still rewards the climb. West side: Kata Beach, Kata Noi, a sliver of Promthep Cape. Turn around: Chalong Bay spreads out below. On clear days, you can see the islands in Phang Nga Bay way out on the horizon.
Most people miss the terrace behind the Buddha. It’s quieter back there, better for photos, and hardly anyone walks the full circle. We always do before heading down.
Visiting Big Buddha Phuket
Two Nagas guard the staircase. 94 steps from the terrace to the Buddha’s base. Up one side, down the other. A guard makes sure you don’t mess that up. The climb’s not bad. Go slow if you need to. If you skip the stairs entirely, the view from the lower terrace is still good.
The Temple
On the way down, the temple area offers its own calm rhythm. Monks sit quietly offering blessings, and locals often stop by to pray. The donation culture is strong here, with opportunities to buy amulets or small items.
A small museum-like room displays information about the construction. Parts of the base were still technically under construction before the closure, but the main statue appeared complete.
The Seven Buddhas of the Week
Just below the statue, seven smaller Buddha statues represent each day of the week. Thai tradition holds that people should pay respect to the Buddha image corresponding to their birth day. Lighting a candle and offering a flower to the appropriate “day Buddha” is a small gesture many visitors enjoy. Read more
A Few Things to Know Before You Visit
First, a quick reminder: This is a temple, not just a viewpoint. It’s a place of worship. Monks, rituals, and locals coming to pray are part of everyday life here. Acting respectfully, as one would in a church or mosque, is expected.
Is there a dress code at The Big Buddha?
There’s a dress code, and it is really simple: No sleeveless tops or shorts above the knee. Free sarongs are available at the entrance for anyone who forgets. Guards are polite but firm about sending visitors back to the gate if clothing doesn’t meet requirements. Keeping voices low and behaving appropriately isn’t difficult, but this is a real temple and a religious site, not a theme park.
How to Get to Big Buddha Phuket?
Getting up to the Big Buddha is a lot easier than it used to be. Back when I first rode up in the early 2000s, the road was a dirt track and reaching the top felt like a small adventure. Now it’s paved, signposted, and lined with restaurants. You just go.
Most tour agencies and tuk-tuks in Phuket can arrange transport, and the entrance is always free. The statue sits at the top of Nakkerd Hill, just outside Chalong in the south of Phuket. Signs from Phuket Town toward Chalong Circle point the way. The road branches off Chaofa West Road, about 8 km from Wat Chalong.
The drive up is straightforward, but be careful on the way down. There’s a steep section with tight curves, and traffic can be heavy. If you’re not familiar with driving a motorbike, take it slow. I’ve seen plenty of people get nervous on that descent, even after all these years of the road being paved.
Options for visiting include renting a car or motorbike, hiring a tuk-tuk and asking the driver to wait, or joining a half-day tour. Some travellers reach the top by ATV tour. For the more active, a hiking trail from Karon Beach offers a good workout.
Big Buddha Phuket Hike
A trail starts from Patak Road in Karon, opposite Baan Karon Resort. The route covers about 2.3-2.5 km and takes roughly an hour with rest breaks. Google Maps labels it the Kata-Karon Hiking Trail. Part of the hike follows a road or partially paved track, but about 1,500 metres involves a steep dirt track through the jungle. One section is quite steep and slippery, with ropes installed to help climbers. Proper shoes, water, and reasonable fitness are recommended.
The trail meets Soi Yot Sane 1, the main road to the Big Buddha, with about 500-650 metres left to walk along the road before reaching the hilltop. The view feels more rewarding after the physical effort of walking up. Read more about hikes to Big Buddha.
Phuket Big Buddha Video
Where to Eat near Big Buddha?
When I drive down from the Big Buddha, I usually stop at Nak-Kerd Seaview Cafe. It’s been there longer than most of the other places along the road, and the view is better too. We always pick a table facing Karon Beach. The terrace is full of flowers, and when the season is right, butterflies gather around them while you eat. Nothing fancy, just cold drinks and simple food with a view that makes you linger.
When Was Big Buddha Phuket Built?
The Big Buddha project started in 2002 when General Phijit Kulawanich, Privy Councillor, laid the foundation stone on 26 May 2002. The statue was meant to become a symbol of peace and faith for Phuket. In 2007, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand granted the official name, and in 2008, the statue was declared the “Buddhist Treasure of Phuket”
The statue stands 45 metres tall and 25.45 metres wide. It’s made of reinforced concrete covered with white Burmese jade marble called Suriyakanta. About 135 tonnes of marble were imported from Myanmar, giving the statue its distinctive, almost glowing appearance in late afternoon light. The project was built entirely from donations. Visitors could sponsor a marble tile for 300 or 1,000 Baht, depending on size, and write their name on it. The foundation is anchored with 50 ferroconcrete piers reaching 12 metres deep.
The main statue and staircase are now complete, but construction is still ongoing underneath the platform, where new meditation halls and exhibition areas are slowly taking shape. It’s always been a community effort, and it’s still growing, little by little.
What Happened in 2024?
The site closed on 23 August 2024 after a landslide killed 13 people, including two Russian tourists and nine Myanmar workers. The disaster exposed illegal building work around the site, and the Royal Forest Department issued 25 conditions before reopening could happen.
A lawsuit followed. Tensions between local authorities, the temple foundation, and affected families delayed progress for months. The site briefly reopened on January 1st 2026 but closed again after just 3 days, creating confusion and disappointment among tourists who rushed up the hill to get a chance to approach the statue. It finally reopened on March 3rd 2026 for Makha Bucha Day.
360 Panorama
More photos of Big Buddha Phuket
Big Buddha Phuket Info
Location: Chalong
Address: Soi Yot Sane 1, Chaofa West Rd, Nakkerd Hill, near Chalong
Open: 9 am – 6 pm daily
Phone: 083 556 2242
Dress Code: No short skirts or short pants, no sleeveless T-shirts
Admission: Free
Status: Reopened March 3rd 2026
Official name: Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri
Height: 45 m, covered in white Burmese marble
Big Buddha Phuket Map
Open this map on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/QfuQU3YyHwX2JrTR6.
This story was first published on January 6, 2011 – more about the Big Buddha of Phuket on Wikipedia.
