Attraction
Phuket Big Buddha
A 45-metre marble-clad Buddha on Nakkerd Hill above Chalong, with free entry and wide views over Kata, Chalong Bay and the south of the island.
Wat Chalong
Phuket's best-known temple complex in Chalong, with a 60-metre chedi holding a Buddha relic and a hall honouring the revered monk Luang Pho Chaem.
At a glance
- Type
- Buddhist temple
- Area
- Chalong, Phuket, Thailand
- Opening
- Open daily · 07:00–17:00
Good to know
- Free entry
- Grand chedi with Buddha relic
- Parking
Why we recommend it
Wat Chalong, officially Wat Chaiyathararam, is the best-known temple on Phuket and an important place of worship for the island's Buddhists. It began as a village monastery in Chalong in the first half of the nineteenth century. Its fame comes from Luang Pho Chaem, the abbot who sheltered and treated the injured during the 1876 unrest among Chinese tin miners, using his knowledge of herbal medicine. King Rama V later granted the temple its royal name, and the monk is still honoured here today.
The tallest building is the Phra Mahathat Chedi, a 60-metre pagoda built between 1991 and 2001. Its lower floors are filled with Buddha images and the walls and ceilings are painted with scenes from the life of the Buddha. On the top floor, in a glass case, is a fragment of bone said to be a relic of the Buddha, a gift from Sri Lanka in 1999, and the upper level gives a view over the grounds. In the main hall, life-like wax figures of Luang Pho Chaem, Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Gluem are continually covered with gold leaf by worshippers.
Expect to hear firecrackers. Devotees whose wishes have come true set them off in a brick kiln near the main buildings throughout the day, and the bangs can be startling if you are not ready for them. The atmosphere is that of a working temple, with families making merit, people buying flowers and incense, and stalls selling snacks and religious items near the entrance.
Entry is free. Cover shoulders and knees, take off shoes and hats before entering buildings and keep your feet pointed away from Buddha images when sitting. The buildings are open from 07:00 to 17:00, although the grounds can be walked outside those hours. Around an hour is enough for most people, or up to 90 minutes if you climb the chedi and take your time. Mornings are cooler and calmer than the middle of the day.
Wat Chalong sits on Chaofa Road between Phuket Town and Chalong, roughly 9 kilometres from the town centre and 16 kilometres from Patong. It is easy to combine with the Big Buddha, about 8 kilometres away, and with lunch or seafood around Chalong and Rawai further south.
Wat Chalong FAQs
Is Wat Chalong free?
Yes, entry is free and donations are optional.
What are the opening hours?
The temple buildings are open from 07:00 to 17:00 daily; the grounds can be walked at any time.
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and remove shoes and hats before entering the buildings.
Why are there firecrackers?
Worshippers set them off in a kiln near the main buildings to give thanks when a wish has been granted.
What is inside the chedi?
Buddha images, murals of the Buddha's life and, on the top floor, a bone relic gifted by Sri Lanka in 1999.
How long should I allow?
About an hour, or up to 90 minutes if you climb the chedi.
How far is it from Patong?
About 16 kilometres; most visitors come by taxi, car or as part of an island tour.
What can I combine it with?
The Big Buddha is around 8 kilometres away, and Rawai and Promthep Cape are further south.