The Buddhist temples or Thai people call ‘Wats’ are the most important symbols of Thailand. Because Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand. In Phuket, there are 29 Buddhist temples spread around the island and all of them are so beautiful.
Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong has been welcoming visitors come to pray and Westerners come to learn about Buddhism. The temple is open from seven in the morning to five in the afternoon. The Grand Pagoda dominating the temple contains a Lord Buddha’s bone. The pagoda is decorated with wall painting about Buddha’s life story and you can see many beuatiful Buddha images. The pagoda is the cool place and very popular for visitors. Drive Phuket car rent away to Wat Chalong and take your time here.
Location: Chao Fa West Road halfway between Central Phuket Festival and Chalong Circle
Wat Khao Rang
Wat Khao Rang , locals maybe call ‘Sumnak Song Khao Rang’, set on the slope of the popular Rang Hill. It’s great location in Phuket Town, you can see a large golden sitting Buddha and it’s a first big Buddha.. The giant Buddha was built in the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata. Wat Khao Rang grounds are divided in two areas. This temple is busy at weekends when locals pay a visit.
Location: Khao Rang Hill, Phuket Town. Drive the car rental on the road Soi Vachira, leading from the Vachira Hospital, the temple is a few hundred metres up on the right.
Wat Phranang Sang
Phra Nang Sang Temple is the oldest temple on the island , approximately 500 years old. It’s located just before Thalang, opposite the entrance of Khao Pra Taew Wildlife Conservation Centre.
Wat Phranang Sang has a old story of innocent princess who executed for a crime she did not commit, it’s claimed that she bled white blood, thus showing her purity. For this reason the temple is also called ‘Wat Leuat Khao’ (Temple of the White Blood).
Location: The temple located in Thalang on Thepkasattri Road, at the Baan Kian intersection: on the way to airport, at the traffic light, the entrance is located right on the side of the road. You will be able to recognize the entrance by the two pairs of large colourful statues holding the gates.
Wat Phra Thong
Wat Phra Thong is oldest temples, it received a visit in 1909 by King Rama VI, who gave it its official name . It is a pleasant place to visit. Because it has a old legend has it that a boy who tied his buffalo to an object that looked like a post fell ill and died, along with the buffalo. His father went to check the post and it turned out to be part of a buried Buddha image.
Location: Wat Phra Thong is 20km north of Phuket Town and is located near the Thalang District Office. Heading to the airport, you can drive Phuket car rent leading to the temple is on the right-hand side
Wat Srisoonthorn
This temple is in Thalang district, in locals call as Wat Lipon . The first thing that you see on the grounds is of the 29-metre-high Sleeping Buddha on top of the wat’s central building, It very large to noticeable from the road outside. You will notice a giant and lions, in Thai myths, they are believed to act as the temple’s guards. Other interesting images are of ghosts , because some Thais believe that if one does bad things. You will end up being a phet in the afterlife. Drive Phuket car rental away to this place and pleasant in here.
Location: About five kilometres north of the Heroine’s Monument on Thepkasathri Road. Wat Srisoonthorn is on the left-hand side.
Phuket’s Big Buddha
Phuket’s Big Buddha is one of the island’s most important and revered landmarks. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and at 45 metres high it is easily seen from far away. The Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha is 25 meters across at the base. The whole body is layered with beautiful white Burmese marble. It ‘s the best 360-degree views of the island , you can see beautiful Phuket Town, Kata, Karon beaches, Chalong Bay and more. This place is very peaceful and the only noises you will hear are the tinkling of small bells and the yellow Buddhist flags in the compound flapping in the wind plus soft background dharma music. So Phuket’s Big Buddha is a natural symbol of hope.
Location : Take the rental car on the road leading up to the Big Buddha is off Chao Fa Road East near Chalong. There are many red-and-white signs indicating where it is. Turn down Soi Yodsane and simply follow the indications for the next six kilometres up the hill. You can’t miss it.
Wat Mai Luang Pu Supha
Wat Mai Luang Pu Supha (also known as Wat Sila Suparam) in Chalong is a relatively new temple on the island. This beautiful and inviting property was built with attention to detail but it is famous mainly because of its founder Luang Pu Supha who is probably one of the most respected and long-lived monks in modern Thai history. The one at Wat Sila Suparam is in classic Thai style and was built next to a small lake. Its classic roof is covered with beautiful yellow glazed tiles. The windows feature some unique samples of Thai traditional carving and painting.
Location : From the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall go towards Chalong, the temple is near Phunaka Golf Course, Phuket Tree Adventure and about 500 metres before the famous Wat Chalong.
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Reference: phuket.com
