Wat Phra Thong also referred to as “Wat Phra Phud” or “Temple of Protruding Buddha” is situated in the Thalang district of the province of Phuket. Due to its interior location and its distance from Thailand's beaches, you won’t find many tourists here. The main draw here is a statue of a half-buried Buddha with only his upper torso and head visible. Locals would also be found praying to Buddha and seeking blessings from monks in this location. If you’re planning a temple tour in Thailand, then this place is a must on your list. In this article, we will be guiding you on what to do in and around Wat Phra Thong. Explore the vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and exotic cuisine with our best Thailand tour packages, offering an unforgettable journey through this enchanting Southeast Asian destination.
Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the temple is open; weekends and holidays may be particularly busy. So it’s better to visit on weekdays. If the unusually heavy rain forces you to cancel your plans, you might visit this temple since admission is usually free and the route there is interesting.
In this 250-year-old Buddha temple, you’ll find the famous Rising Golden Buddha, which is untouched and well-protected. Aside from this, there are many other Buddha statues inside the shrine where people paste their golden leaves to honor the Buddha's teachings. The temple’s architecture and color patterns are also unique and different when compared to other temples in Thailand.
Another excellent feature of this temple is its museum. In this museum, they have a collection of artifacts belonging to the tin mine era, Chinese shoes, Chinese rubber raincoats, daggers, canons, and so on. You could spend an interesting 20 minutes here learning about their culture.
The renowned Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is just a 10-minute drive from Wat Phra Thong Temple. It’s famous for its Gibbon Rehab Center and Bang Pae Waterfalls. You could also challenge yourself and go for a small trek in this park.
Bang Tao Beach, also known as the second-largest beach in Thailand, is almost a 10-kilometer drive from Wat Phra Thong Temple. Known for its luxurious resorts, spas, night markets, and malls, this beach is worth a try. You could also try Blue Tree park, which is close to Bang Tao Beach, to enjoy water rides with your kids and families
In Thailand, elephants are generally revered and held in high regard. As a result, elephant sanctuaries are typically easy to find in your neighborhood. To blend with the ecosystem of an elephant, it is advised to visit ethical sanctuaries like Green Elephant Sanctuary.
The Thepkrasattri road connecting Wat Phra Temple to Phuket has several hotels with an average rating of over 4 on google. You could visit there and enjoy traditional and authentic Thai cuisine at a reasonable price in this region. Explore Phuket's beauty with our curated Phuket tour package from India for an unforgettable island getaway.
No, entry to Wat Phra Thong is free. However, any offerings made to the temple would be appreciated.
Short skirts, Short pants and sleeveless T-shirts are not allowed in Wat Phra Thong temple.
No, the temple is open only till five in the evening. It is advised to go before the closure.
No, touching the golden buddha is prohibited in the temple. You could touch other buddhas available other than golden buddha.
Yes, the temple’s parking lot is spacious enough to accommodate buses. Therefore parking your private vehicle would not be an issue here.
Despite its interior location, Wat Phra Thong is one of the very few places in Thailand which have a direct connection to the main road. Therefore it is easier to find hotels and restaurants near Wat Phra Thong