Phuket’s Most Important Temple
Wat Chalong, officially known as Wat Chaiyathararam, stands as the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. Located approximately 9 kilometres south of Phuket Town, this sacred site serves as the spiritual heart of the island and represents one of Thailand’s most significant religious landmarks. Built in the early 19th century around 1837, the temple has evolved from a simple monastery into a magnificent complex that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
The temple gained prominence and royal status in 1846, becoming formally recognised for its important role in the community. Among Phuket’s 29 Buddhist temples, Wat Chalong holds unparalleled significance due to its rich history, architectural grandeur, and deep spiritual connections that continue to resonate with both local devotees and international visitors.
The Grand Chedi (Phra Mahathat Chedi)
The temple’s most impressive structure is the 60-meter-tall golden chedi, known as Phra Mahathat Chedi, which was constructed between 1991 and 2001. This magnificent three-story pagoda serves as the centrepiece of the temple complex and houses one of Buddhism’s most precious relics – a fragment of Buddha’s bone, gifted by the Sri Lankan government to King Rama IX in 1999 as part of his 72nd birthday celebrations.
The chedi’s exterior showcases intricate Thai craftsmanship with delicate carvings and golden decorations that shimmer brilliantly in the tropical sunlight. Each of the three levels serves a distinct purpose and offers unique spiritual experiences for visitors.
The first two floors contain an impressive collection of Buddha statues representing various postures and phases of the Buddha’s life, including the seven specific poses corresponding to different days of the week. These statues, many adorned with gold leaf applied by devoted visitors, create a serene atmosphere for contemplation and prayer.
The walls and ceilings throughout the chedi feature stunning murals that narrate the complete story of Buddha’s life, from his birth to enlightenment and teachings. These intricate paintings, executed by skilled Thai artists, serve both as religious instruction and artistic masterpieces that captivate visitors with their vibrant colours and detailed storytelling.
The Sacred Relic Chamber
The third and highest floor of the chedi houses the temple’s most treasured possession – Buddha’s bone fragment displayed within a glass chamber. This sacred relic, believed by Buddhists to contain immense spiritual power, draws pilgrims from around the world who come to meditate and seek blessings in its presence.
Visitors can climb to this uppermost level to experience both the spiritual significance of the relic and spectacular panoramic views of the entire temple grounds and surrounding landscape. The climb itself becomes a form of meditation as devotees ascend through the increasingly sacred spaces of the chedi.
Wat Chalong Video
Most Thai people make merit in the central temple by offering lotus flowers and adding a small piece of gold paper to the monks’ statues inside.
Once in a while, you will hear loud explosions of firecrackers coming from a brick oven-like construction. That’s another way to make merit, supposedly to show gratitude when one of your wishes comes true. One person stands by to light the firecrackers for you; the big ones are pretty scary, but make for fun photos.
A dozen small shops sell souvenirs and tourist goods on the temple side. Strangely, the shops selling religious items are outside the temple grounds, next to the gate.
There are occasional funfairs displaying lots of food, plenty of favourite Thai games, and big-stage performances. It’s always fun, noisy, and entertaining and will undoubtedly give you exciting opportunities to take fun photos and insight into Thai life.
Inside the Chedi
The tallest building on the temple grounds is a 60-meter-tall stupa (chedi) sheltering a bone fragment of Lord Buddha. Beautiful paintings retracing the most significant aspects of the Buddha’s life decorate the walls and ceilings of the temple. Each floor is also full of large, donated golden statues.
The chedi (stupa) of Chalong Temple is built on three floors, so feel free to climb to the top terrace to get a beautiful bird ‘s-eye view of the entire temple grounds. A few more steps will lead you to a glass display where you can contemplate the fragment of bone.
The temple complex includes several other significant structures, most notably the main prayer hall (viharn), which contains the life-like statues of the three most venerated monks: Luang Pho Chaem, Luang Pho Chuang, and Luang Pho Gluem. These wax figures, incredibly detailed and realistic in appearance, are continuously adorned with layers of gold leaf applied by respectful visitors as gestures of reverence and gratitude.
The main hall itself exemplifies traditional Thai temple architecture with elevated wooden construction reminiscent of traditional monk residences. The building serves as the primary space for daily religious activities, where local Thai people regularly make merit by offering lotus flowers, lighting incense, and placing small pieces of gold paper on the monk statues.
Is there a dress code at Wat Chalong?
There is no strict dress code for visiting Chalong Temple. Theoretically, you should wear long pants and no sleeveless shirts on the temple’s grounds, but this requirement seems to belong to a past era. There is no need to tell you to remove your shoes before entering any of the buildings; you hopefully already know that. A sea of shoes randomly abandoned in front of the temple will remind you anyway.
- There is no entry fee.
- Dress respectfully.
- Take off your shoes and remove caps or hats when entering a building.
Making merit with firecrackers!
One of Wat Chalong’s most distinctive features is the practice of merit-making through firecracker ceremonies. Throughout the day, visitors can hear explosive sounds emanating from a brick oven-like structure where devotees light firecrackers as expressions of gratitude when their prayers are answered or wishes fulfilled. Temple staff assist with the lighting process, particularly for the larger, more powerful firecrackers that create impressive displays but require careful handling.
Wat Chalong Fair
Wat Chalong Fair is Phuket’s largest annual temple festival, held for about 10 days during the Chinese New Year. The event blends Buddhist traditions with lively celebrations, including stage shows, firecrackers, bustling markets, and amusement rides. Devotees pay respect inside the temple, while outside, visitors enjoy food stalls, flower shops, fried insect snacks, and carnival games. The fair attracts families and locals with its festive evening atmosphere, music, and Thai cultural performances, making it a unique community gathering each year.
Wat Chalong 360 Panorama
Photos of Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong Info
Location: between Phuket town and ChalongAddress: 70/6 Chao Fah Tawan Tok Road, Chalong, Phuket 83130
Open: 7 am – 5 pm (but you can walk around the temple grounds anytime)
Phone: 076 381 226
Dress Code: No short skirts or short pants, no sleeveless T-shirts
Price: Free
Built: 1837
Official name: Wat Chai Thararam
How to Get to Wat Chalong?
Wat Chalong is easy to find on Chaofa Road, between Phuket Town and Chalong, south of Phuket Island. Just follow the many signs on the way to Chalong Circle. From Phuket town, take Chaofah Road to Chalong and Rawai. There are two Chaofah Roads: the one you need passes in front of the Central Phuket Shopping Mall and all the shopping malls. It’s about 10 km south of Central Mall, on the left and well indicated.Distance from Patong to the temple: 16 km
From Phuket International Airport: 37 km
From Phuket Town: 9 km
From Bangtao: 29 km
From the Big Buddha: 8 km
Wat Chalong Map
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/u9SBmUBRDh4d5a5p9.This story was first published on June 6, 2016
Don’t Miss near Wat Chalong
You can see the nearby Phuket Big Buddha from there, but you can see it almost anywhere in the southern part of Phuket island.
Big Buddha Phuket
The Big Buddha in Phuket is one of the island’s most famous landmarks. Sitting 45 metres tall atop Nakkerd Hill, it offers wide views over Chalong, Kata, and Rawai. The statue is made of white Burmese marble and shines in the sun. From the base, we can see much of southern Phuket. The distance from Big Buddha Phuket to Wat Chalong is about 8 km by road, which takes around 15 minutes by car.
FAQs About Wat Chalong
More Temples in Phuket
