Wat Phra Thong – วัดพระทอง

Wat Prathong in Thalang

Wat Phra Thong (or Wat Prathong), meaning ‘Golden Buddha Image Temple is a very old temple with an incredible legend behind it, the kind of story that irresistibly attracts people. It’s not very big or impressive, but everyone first wants to see the famous half-buried golden Buddha. So what is this strange legend about a temple in Thalang on the way to Phuket Airport?

The story of Wat Phra Thong

A long time ago in Thalang, a boy tied the rope of his buffalo to a piece of wood sticking out of the pasture ground… big mistake! This was a ‘finial’, the conical shape at the top of a very large Buddha image almost entirely buried. The boy became ill and soon died, as well as his buffalo. Following a dream he had, the boy’s father went to have a look at this stick to find out what it was. Villagers tried to free the statue, but the diggers were attacked by swarms of hornets coming out from the dug-up earth, while the spectators were left unharmed.

Later, during the invasion of Thalang town by the Burmese Army, Burmese soldiers tried to excavate the statue to take it back to Burma. But this time, they were attacked and bitten by swarms of tiny ants from the dug earth. Hundreds of Burmese soldiers fell ill and died. The remaining soldiers set the ants on fire but could not dig deeper than the statue’s neck when the ruler of Nakhon Si Thammarat eventually liberated the city.

Finally, in 1750, a monk from Sukhothai convinced the villagers that building the temple around the Buddha image was better. The original Buddha head was covered with a new image for religious performances, which explains the perfect condition of the current half statue.

Today the ground of Wat Phra Thong consists of several temples and even a museum displaying items from the tin mining era, mostly given by locals. Now you know the story, you can visit the temple and tell your friend about it, and remember not to tie your buffalo everywhere 🙂 Wat Phra Thong is open daily from 8 am to 5.30 pm. When you are driving back from the Airport, the street leading to Wat Phra Thong is on your left, almost at the Thalang intersection, but it is not well indicated.

Photos of Wat Phra Thong

More Temples in Phuket

Phuket Big Buddha

Is Big Buddha Phuket open? Still closed after the August 2024 landslide. Here's the latest status, best viewpoints to see it from afar, and alternative temples to visit instead. Read More

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong, officially called Wat Chai Thararam, is the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket, about 9 km south of Phuket Town. It was built at Read More

Wat Kanan

Wat Kanan is Phuket's striking white Buddhist temple, often referred to as the island's answer to the famousWhite Temple in Chiang Rai. Located in the Thalang area of Phuket, this Read More

Wat Mongkol Nimit

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 Read More

Wat Phra Thong

Wat Phra Thong (or Wat Prathong), meaning 'Golden Buddha Image Temple is a very old temple with an incredible legend behind it, the kind of story that irresistibly attracts people. Read More

Wat Suwan Kirikhet (Karon Temple)

Wat Suwan Kirikhet is a small but beautiful temple in the back of Karon Beach that frequently hosts the popular Karon Temple Market and occasional funfairs, which are always fun Read More

Wat Kitti Sangkharam (Kata Temple)

Wat Kitti Sangkharam, also called Kata Temple, sits on the eastern side of Kata Beach along Patak Road. The temple is known for its ornate ordination hall, colorful facades, and Read More

Wat Phra Nang Sang

Wat Phra Nang Sang, originally known as Wat Takian, was built more than 200 years ago and is one of the oldest Thai temples in Phuket. This unusual temple was Read More

Wat Khao Rang

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. Read More

Wat Thepnimit

Wat Thepnimit (วัดเทพนิมิตร) is a local Buddhist temple located in the Wichit subdistrict of Phuket, near the Wichit Subdistrict Office and not far from Phuket Town. Read More

Wat Nai Harn

Wat Nai Harn was once a small and unknown temple surrounded by walls between the beach and the lake. After adding a brand new building, it expanded to become a Read More

Wat Suwan Khiri Wong (Patong Temple)

Wat Suwannakhiriwong is a Mahanikaya sect temple located in Patong. Spanning 17 rai, the temple is bordered by Phra Barami Road, a canal, and the foot of a mountain, with Read More

Wat Kathu

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 Read More

Wat Sapam

Beautifully standing on the east coast of Phuket just opposite Koh Maphrao (Coconut Island), Wat Sapam is not often visited as cars usually drive (too) fast in these curves, and Read More

Wat Sawang Arom

Wat Sawang Arom is a temple of the Mahanikaya sect located in Rawai, south of Phuket Phuket Island. Established in 1942 by Phra Bunrod Thammakamo, the temple covers an area Read More

Wat Cherngtalay

Wat Cherngtalay, historically known as Wat Tin Le, is an ancient and revered temple located in Phuket Province. It has served as a spiritual centre for the people of Cherngtalay Read More

Wat Karon (Wat Suwan Khiri Khet)

Wat Karon, or Wat Suwan Khiri Khet, sits just inland from Karon Beach and has been part of the local community since 1895. It received its royal charter in 1939, Read More

Wat Tha Rua

Wat Tha Rua is a Mahanikaya sect temple in Tambon Si Sunthon in Thalang, just before the Heroine Circle on the way to Phuket International Airport. Read More

7 Buddha Postures for the Days of The Week

Discover the meaning of each of the seven Buddha postures for every day of the week in Thai culture. Learn which Buddha statue corresponds to your birth day and its Read More