Biggest Buddha to rise above Phuket

Rising on a scenic hilltop in southern Phuket island is a 45m-tall Buddha which its builders see as an icon to match the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro, the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, or the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The tallest Buddha in Thailand, it's made of concrete to be covered by Burmese white jade with a golden pinnacle, with some enthusiasts calling it a new wonder of the modern world.

The statue's 6.72-hectare site affords panoramic views of the port town of Chalong, its beaches and pier, boats off the coast, surrounding rainforests and to the northwest, some of the beaches at resorts south of Patong and the Andaman Sea with its dozens of rocky islets.

One regional guide has already described the Giant Buddha as Phuket's most important cultural icon - although its official opening is not scheduled until mid-2009.

The complex, which will include a museum at ground level, has been hailed as a future major tourist attraction for Phuket - along with its beaches, resorts, island visits, boating, diving, snorkeling and other water sports and golf courses.

Tourism officials say about 300,000 Australians are expected to have visited Phuket this year by month's end, nearly double the 2006 figure, many taking advantage of Jetstar's exclusive direct non-stop flights to the island from Sydney.

Today the huge statue - 24.45m wide at the base - is surrounded by scaffolding but the Buddha's facial features can be seen, although partly obscured also by green cloth.

The face was moulded in concrete on the ground as one huge mask divided into sections - to be replicated in white jade - then raised piece by piece along with the two long white ears.

A bone fragment from the body of Buddha (563BC-483BC), one of many such relics in Buddhist shrines around Asia, has been promised by the church for inclusion in the statue complex.

The Giant Buddha dwarfs a 34m-high statue on Hong Kong's Lantau Island described as the world's largest tallest outdoor seated Buddha.

Less than 100m away in the shadow of its towering brother is an already-completed golden Buddha statue made of 22 tons of brass and standing 12.5m high.

Thousands of Thai pilgrims each week now drive up a newly-upgraded road to the crest of 380m-high Nakkerd Hill to view progress on the Giant Buddha,to pray, chant and to enjoy the views, along with an increasing number of tourists of all (or no) religious persuasions.

Monks from all Phuket's Buddhist temples supervise the work. They also hold a ceremony there at 10.30am on Saturdays.

The Giant Buddha is being built with public donations on the hilltop land made available by its owner, businessman and prominent leading Buddhist Suporn Vanichkul, who is president of the Mingmongkoi Foundation formed to launch the five-year project.

Khun (Mr) Suporn said donations towards the construction had been received from everywhere, from local companies and individuals, supporters in other Thailand provinces and overseas.

Tourists help, too. Every day at least 150 visitors hand over 20 baht and write their names with a blue stylus pen on a porous red brick, to be used in the construction of the complex.

Sponsors can donate white tiles for 500 baht apiece.

And the golden topknot for the Giant Buddha's head is available to a sponsor for 500,000 baht.

Khun Suporn said the statue would be finished in white jade although some media reports said it would be of white marble.

Visitors to the site have included Thailand's Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, eldest child of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit, who attended a prayer meeting here earlier this year.

Khun Suporn said the Great Buddha would be dedicated to the King, who celebrates his 80th birthday this month (December), and the smaller statue to the queen.

The statue's official name, incidentally, is the Pha Puttamingmongkoi Akenakkiri Buddha.

- AAP

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The view from the hill the Buddha image is being constructed on

The Buddha image still under construction

This is indeed impressive. I went up to visit it only a few days ago. It'a major project but well towards completion. Many foreign tourists come and visit the partially-built statue.

I heard the best question of the day from an American tourists 'Gee, this is big. So how long ago was it built then??'

Simon

The last time I was in Phuket, you could see the Buddha from many places:

Not a very clear picture because I was a long way away:

(On top of the hill on the right)

a 45m-tall Buddha which its builders see as an icon to match the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro

the religious competition has started - buddha won by the whooping 5 metres

Is the old monk still camping up there in a huton the right as you park the car?

Looking good. Used to cycle up there on a regular basis - great views of Kata and Chalong Bay on the way up.

The Tallest Buddha Image In Thailand To Rise Above Phuket, 45 meters high and made of concrete covered in white jade

Hmmmm...I doubt that very much. White Jade is extremely expensive and very rare.

White marble is more likely.

LaoPo

The Tallest Buddha Image In Thailand To Rise Above Phuket, 45 meters high and made of concrete covered in white jade

Hmmmm...I doubt that very much. White Jade* is extremely expensive and very rare.

White marble is more likely.

LaoPo

Note: * although Green Jade -Jadeite- is even more expensive than white Jade -nephrite-

LaoPo

It sure beats a big Pineapple/lobster/sheep/banana etc etc.

I am sure the Buddha will be very pleased to know that a giant statue of himself will continue the destruction of what little scenic beauty is left to be found in Phuket. And also that the monies spent to build this temporal image was not used to relieve in some small way some of the suffering in the world.

the monies spent to build this temporal image was not used to relieve in some small way some of the suffering in the world.

I see your point, but perhaps we shouldn't underestimate the positive effect such an awesome dedication to Buddha might have on Buddhists.

Edited December 14, 200718 yr by jingjoe

I see your point, but perhaps we shouldn't underestimate the positive effect such an awesome dedication to Buddha might have on Buddhists.

And to follow-on with this, we need to determine what the motivation of the builders of this statue is. From the news report, it seems to me the goal is to create a famous or large tourist attraction (and increase the islands tourism revenues) and not to enlighten anyone about the teachings of the Buddha. It may also be to create a sense of pride or vain gloriousness amongst the builders and Buddhist admirers of such a statue...again, values that I doubt would impress the Buddha.