About Big Buddha
On top of Nakkerd Hill, at roughly 400 meters, the Big Buddha looks out over Chalong Bay, and from the west side of the statue you can see the beaches of Kata and Kata Noi. It stands 45 meters tall and 25.45 wide, made of reinforced concrete clad in white Burmese marble, about 135 tons of it brought from Myanmar. On a clear day, the islands of Phang Nga Bay show up on the horizon.
The work was paid for with visitor donations and is not yet finished: new halls are taking shape beneath the platform. The site closed in August 2024 and reopened in March 2026, so confirm that it is operating before you head up. The dress code is the same as at any temple, with shoulders and knees covered.
