Big Buddha Phuket and the white marble crown of Nakkerd Hill
Published on 09/10/2026 at 07:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Big Buddha Phuket is a vast white Buddha statue and temple terrace on Nakkerd Hill in southern Phuket, a concrete figure clad in marble high above the Andaman Sea. Completed in the early twenty-first century and known formally as Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri, it anchors a hilltop complex that serves as both a place of Buddhist worship and a far-ranging viewpoint over the island and the surrounding water.
A seated Buddha in white Burmese marble
The centrepiece of Big Buddha Phuket is the main statue, a representation of Gautama Buddha seated in the Maravija attitude on a raised circular terrace. The figure rises about 45 m (148 ft) from its base to the top of the ushnisha, with a width of a little over 25 m (82 ft) across the lap, giving the seated body a clear, dominating presence on the skyline above southern Phuket.45 m tall and over 25 m wide Behind and around the main image, smaller statues, bells and prayer spaces form a layered ensemble, but the eye is repeatedly drawn back to the large seated figure.
The Buddha statue is built with a reinforced-concrete core that carries a cladding of thin tiles of Burmese white marble, giving the surfaces a pale, finely jointed skin.concrete core and Burmese white marble The robe’s folds, the rounded shoulders and the smoothly modelled head all catch the light differently on the hill, so that the statue reads as a coherent form from a distance and reveals more detail on closer approach. At the base, reliefs and inscriptions mark donations and religious dedications, tying the material shell of marble and concrete to the spiritual life of the site.
Nakkerd Hill and the southern Phuket landscape
Big Buddha Phuket stands on the summit of Nakkerd Hill, a ridge between Chalong on the east side of the island and Kata on the west, with the hill reaching around 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level.around 400 m above sea level The site’s official address places it in Karon Subdistrict in Mueang Phuket District, tying this exposed crest into the administrative fabric of Phuket as well as its physical landscape.Karon, Mueang Phuket District From the terrace and the surrounding paths, sightlines open towards the bays of the Andaman Sea, the lower coastal plain around Chalong and the wooded hills that run south towards Rawai.
Nakkerd Hill itself is part of a chain of high ground in southern Phuket, and the statue is visible from many vantage points, including sections of the coastal road and viewpoints above the beaches.Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill between Chalong and Kata The temple precinct occupies the crest, with the main statue at its centre, smaller images and structures around it, and the outer edge formed by low walls and railings that frame the views outwards. On clear days the sea and islands to the south and west form a broad backdrop, while inland the patchwork of roads, buildings and vegetation shows Phuket as a working island beyond its resort areas.
A modern hilltop temple above Chalong
Construction at Nakkerd Hill began in 2004, when the first structural elements of the Big Buddha statue were raised above the ridge, adding a modern religious landmark to a hill that had previously been part of the wider landscape rather than a built focal point.construction began in 2004 The project extended over a number of years in the early twenty-first century, and the finished statue now stands as a prominent modern addition to Thailand’s collection of large Buddha images.third-tallest Buddha statue in Thailand
The hilltop complex is associated with the temple Wat Kitthi Sankaram (also known as Wat Kata), and the official Thai name Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri links the statue explicitly to Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict.Wat Kitthi Sankaram and Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri Monks and lay visitors share the space, with areas set aside for offerings, prayer and meditation beside zones where visitors move around the terrace, look out over the island and read the inscriptions that record contributions to the building and maintenance of the site.
Visiting Big Buddha Phuket: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill between Chalong and Kata in the southern part of Phuket, and is reached by a paved road that climbs from the Chao Fa Road area near Chalong Roundabout up through forested slopes to the temple precinct.
- The hilltop complex includes outdoor terraces and stairways, with steps leading from the parking areas and lower structures up to the main circular platform at the base of the statue.
- Phuket lies in southern Thailand and the official language is Thai; the national currency is the baht.
Searching for Big Buddha Phuket on social platforms
These links open searches for Big Buddha Phuket on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Big Buddha Phuket
Where is Big Buddha Phuket located?
Big Buddha Phuket stands on Nakkerd Hill in Karon Subdistrict in the southern part of Phuket, between Chalong on the east and Kata on the west.
What should visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors encounter a large seated Buddha statue in white marble on a hilltop terrace, surrounded by smaller religious structures, open viewpoints and stairways connecting different levels.
What makes Big Buddha Phuket distinctive among Buddha statues?
The statue combines a reinforced-concrete structure clad in Burmese white marble with a hilltop setting around 400 m (1,312 ft) above sea level, giving it a prominent presence over southern Phuket.
