Phuket Travel Guide and Blog
What is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2022? [toc] The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or Nine Emperor Gods Festival) happens once a year, during the ninth lunar month, and is one of the most auspicious events on Phuket island. For this unique occasion, a crowd of devotees assemble in every Chinese shrine around the island, followed by an even bigger horde of photographers avid to get the shot of their life. The
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Phuket most iconic landmark [toc] The Phuket Big Buddha is a 45-metre-tall white marble statue visible from anywhere in the southern part of Phuket. This impressive landmark is probably at the top of everyone's 'Must-Do in Phuket' and is jaw-dropping. The panoramic views from up there are breathtaking. Koh Samui always had a very popular Giant Buddha, and Phuket wanted a bigger one. In addition, it is free to visit
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Phuket Chinese temples and shrines [toc] Phuket's Chinese shrines always offer an excellent opportunity for some good photos. There are quite a few around, and each has its characters and unique features. The large ones are very popular during Chinese New Year in February or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October and can get extremely crowded, not to mention very loud from firecrackers. 1. Jui Tui Shrine Best known and
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Amazing Buddhist temples of Phuket [toc] Phuket temples, or Wats, are always worth a visit; from the temple hidden inside a cave to the famous Wat Chalong, a visit to Thailand would not be complete without exploring a few of these magnificent and beautifully ornamented buildings ('Wat' means 'Temple', you guessed it). Phuket has many temples; we will probably list them one by one, but many are difficult to find or
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Phuket's most important temple [toc] Wat Chalong, or Chalong Temple (officially Wat Chai Thararam), is the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. According to some sources, it was built at the beginning of the 19th century, 1837. Chalong Temple is one of the Must-See places in Phuket, and the nearby Big Buddha of Phuket, as they are relatively close. Wat Chalong Video The central temple
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One of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket [toc] Tha Rua Shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, found in Thalang District on Thepkasattri Road about 800m south of the Heroines’ Monument. It’s an important site during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, when thousands of devotees come to hold ceremonies and eat vegetarian food during the event’s nine days. Tha Rua Shrine is also an important place
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[toc] Kio Thian Keng Shrine is a colourful Chinese shrine that is set on the seashore inside Saphan Hin public park in Phuket Town. It’s a place of worship for the local Chinese-Thai community and it plays an important role as the site of the final farewell to the gods during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Kio Thian Keng Shrine is one of the newer Chinese shrines in Phuket, and
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The Kathu Shrine [toc] Lai Thu Tao Bo Keng is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, and many believe it was the birthplace of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival nearly two centuries ago. The shrine is located in the subdistrict of Kathu in the island’s interior, between Phuket Town and Patong Beach. Though it’s not well known as a tourist attraction, Kathu Shrine is an important part of the
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Sam Kong Shrine in Phuket Town [toc] Lim Hu Tai Su is a Chinese Taoist shrine on the north side of Phuket Town, also known as Sam Kong Shrine, for the neighbourhood it’s found in. Though not as well known by visitors as larger Chinese shrines like Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket’s Old Town area, Sam Kong Shrine is a revered place of worship for the local community. It’s become
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Wat Phra Nang Sang [toc] Wat Phra Nang Sang was built more than 200 years ago and was originally known as Wat Takian; and is one of the oldest Thai temples in Phuket. This unusual temple was built when Thalang was the main city of Phuket Island and even was the scene of a battlefield during the Burma war in 1785. For many years, Wat Phra Nang Sang was a
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Shop and try local food at Karon Temple Market [toc] The Karon Temple Market has grown steadily in popularity in the past years. Because it only occurs twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays), people start to plan their evenings around that event. Night markets have always been popular in Phuket and all over Thailand, but a Temple market sounds more exotic. Also, Karon Beach lacks a few attractions, so the
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A beautiful hidden Buddhist temple in Phuket [toc] Wat Kathu, or Kathu temple, is a not very well-known landmark among tourists, but local photographers know how beautiful it is. This Buddhist temple is on the way to Phuket Town and not far from Patong, but because it stands away from the main road, most people don't even consider visiting it. Wat Kathu is not very big but certainly has a
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Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town [toc] Jui Tui Shrine (Kew Ong) is one of the oldest and most important on Phuket Island. It plays a significant role during the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival, usually held in October and November. The festival dates use the Lunar Calendar, and the festival's exact dates change every year, so if you plan to travel to Phuket to see this event, check the dates
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Doi Thepnimit Phuket [toc] Doi Thepnimit Phuket is a monastic residence with a fantastic panoramic view over Patong beach. You can see its iconic white pagoda from the beach, if you know in which direction to look, of course, it's pretty tiny. Doi Thepnimit is a small but so beautifully decorated Thai temple, and with such a view, it's worth stopping on your way in or out Patong beach. Join
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Sang Tham Shrine or the Shrine of the Serene Light [toc] The Shrine of the Serene Light, locally known as Sang Tham Shrine, is a beautifully decorated Chinese Temple on Phang Nga Road, one of the most famous streets of Phuket Town. It used to be 'the little hidden Chinese temple' tucked away at the end of a small path, right under your nose. While most Thais knew all about
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Phuket reclining golden Buddha [toc] Wat Sri Sunthon (Wat Srisoonthorn) is known for the immense golden Buddha reclining at the top of a large building in the 'Pang Sai Yat' posture, which corresponds to “Realizing Nirvana” (read more here). The statue seems to be staring endlessly at the frantic traffic on the nearby road to Phuket International Airport. Of course, you already knew that 'Wat' is the Thai word for 'Temple'.
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Wat Mongkol Nimit [toc] Wat Mongkol Nimit or Wat Putta Mongkon might not be the most impressive temple in Phuket but this one means a lot to people living around Phuket Town. All temples are of course worth visiting but since Wat Mongkol Nimit is really close to Thalang Road, the historical streets of Phuket Town it would complete your visit perfectly. Wat Mongkol Nimit is very large and very easy
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The Buddha Cave of Phang Nga [toc] Wat Suwan Kuha is a surprising cave sheltering an immense reclining golden Buddha. If you feel like a little drive outside Phuket island, this is your chance to explore another side of Phang Nga! This region is not only famous for incredible limestone cliffs plunging straight down into the sea but also for some unexpected jewels. If you rent a car, driving along
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An island within Phuket island [toc] Koh Sirey is an island, but you would never guess it from a map and many probably have never heard of it. Connected to Phuket town by a very short bridge, this small piece of land doesn't have any particular signs but this is where you will find the beautiful Westin Siray Bay Resort. What to do on Sirey Island Besides the temple and
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Phuket golden sitting Buddha [toc] Wat Khao Rang (Kao Rang Temple) is a modest temple in Phuket town that would be somewhat anonymous if it was not for its large and majestic golden sitting Buddha. But is the giant Buddha not supposed to be much bigger and made of white marble? True, this one is the golden Buddha of Phuket Town, one of the first sitting Buddha in Phuket, built
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