The Big Buddha on Koh Samui is the heart and soul of the Thai island!

Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand, so there are places of worship of this denomination in every corner of the country (for example Big Buddha on the island of Phuket). Often they are located on the tiny coastal cliffs. And on the island of Samui, the second largest in the Gulf of Thailand, the Thais have tried to place an almost cyclopean structure, reflecting the degree of their reverence for the supreme deity. The majestic statue of Big Buddha on Koh Samui is 12 meters high and the distance between the knees (the deity sits in the traditional lotus pose) is six meters. It is covered in gold leaf.

Big Buddha on Samui

This place is not a temple complex, the Big Buddha statue on Samui is allocated a plaza on top of the hill of a small island. Along the edge of the plaza is a fence that not only protects against accidental falls, but is also a sacred structure. There are bells on its pillars that can be sounded and you can get rid of sins and attract good luck. And you can also give an offering to any of the statues of Buddha surrounding the main figure of the deity. They symbolize the days of the week. Choose the one that corresponds to your day of birth.

Big Buddha on Samui

The Big Buddha statue is not a historical monument either. It was erected in 1972 with the specific purpose of protecting the sunny and carefree island of Samui from natural disasters and other adversities. Its inhabitants are immensely proud to be under the protection of the Buddha. Therefore, this statue can rightly be considered the soul and heart of this island!

Big Buddha on Samui

Big Buddha on Samui

Big Buddha on Samui

The Big Buddha complex on Samui is a rare exception in terms of tolerance. You can go there in beach T-shirts and shorts. The only requirement is that you remove your shoes before entering the stairs leading to the observation deck.

What to see

Big Buddha on Samui is set atop the hill of a small island connected to Samui by a causeway. A staircase of 60 steps leads up to it. It is divided into three lanes; the middle one, with brown tiles, is for climbing up. The staircase itself is a work of art. Its railings are made in the form of snakes with the heads of dragons. At the foot of it is a pavilion with statue of the reclining Buddha, surrounded by sculptures of this deity in different incarnations. You can also buy flowers and incense to make offerings.

Big Buddha on Samui

In addition to being a place of religious worship, the site at Big Buddha is also a great vantage point with views of the sea, Samui’s neighboring Ko Phangan Island and a number of sea cliffs.

Big Buddha on Samui

Big Buddha on Samui

Big Buddha on Samui

Big Buddha on Samui

A hundred meters away from the stairs is a fabulous sculptural composition, half-immersed in the waves of the sea by an artist’s whim. The main character in it is a mythological woman with huge fangs, killing the enemies of the inhabitants of the island. The other figures are more peaceful: a monk, a flutist, a rider on a horse with the head of a dragon, a mermaid.

The main character in the composition is a mythological woman.

There are several souvenir shops at the foot of the hill. Buddha statuettes are the most offered there, although you can also buy traditional Thai souvenirs, clothes and jewelry that you can take back with you from Thailand. Because of the abundance of tourists, their prices are extremely high. The same thing, but half or three times cheaper, you can buy at local markets or Thai supermarkets. But you must visit one of them. There tourists are offered to buy figurines of movie characters made from dismantled car parts. It will be very interesting to watch, even if you don’t buy anything.

How to get there

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To get to the Big Buddha on Samui, you need to get to Phan Island. Any Samui attractions can be reached based on visual landmarks. If your starting point is from airport, get off at Sanam Bin Road and head for the pier where the ferries to Ko Tao Island depart from. North of it there is an arch under which the road leading to Phan Island passes.

Big Buddha on Samui

The road to the statue

Big Buddha on a map of Samui

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Cartographic data © 2022

Cartographic data © 2022

Please use the arrow keys to navigate.

Cartographic data © 2022

Cartographic data © 2022

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