Phuket's Big Buddha, the 45-meter white statue on the hill between Chalong and Kata, is open again. It reopened on Tuesday 3 March 2026 after about 18 months of closure following the deadly landslide of August 2024, and it is now run by Wat Kittisangharam (Wat Kata), open daily from 09:00 to 18:00. Dress as you would for any temple: shoulders and knees covered.
Many websites still give the old opening hours, from early morning until after sunset, and some still say the site is closed. Both are out of date. The Phuket News reported in March 2026 that the temple now manages the site under the name "Wat Kittisangharam (Big Buddha)", with five monks stationed there, and that only an approved area of about 15 rai (roughly 2.4 hectares) on the hilltop is open.
The statue is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the island, visible from much of the south. Our Phuket guide covers the island as a whole; this page is only about visiting the Big Buddha.
Big Buddha Phuket: current facts (October 2026)
- Official name now
- Wat Kittisangharam (Big Buddha), managed by Wat Kata
- Status
- Reopened 3 March 2026 after the August 2024 landslide
- Hours
- Daily 09:00–18:00 (as announced at the reopening)
- Entry
- Free at reopening; donations used for running costs, according to the temple committee
- Statue
- About 45 meters tall, white
- Location
- Nakkerd Hill (Nak Koet Hill), between Chalong and Kata, south Phuket
- Dress
- Covered shoulders and knees; remove shoes where signs ask
Why the Big Buddha was closed, and what changed
In August 2024, after very heavy rain, a landslide came down the hillside below the Big Buddha into homes in Kata, killing 13 people and injuring 19. Phuket's forestry office ordered the site closed because of the risk of further slides. The Royal Forest Department said at the time that clearing trees on the hilltop for the statue had contributed; whether rain alone or construction also caused the disaster is still being argued in a class action before the Phuket Provincial Court, brought by residents against the foundation that used to run the site.
The site reopened on 3 March 2026, Makha Bucha Day, under different management. The Royal Forest Department approved the use of the 15-rai area subject to 25 conditions, including a ban on new permanent buildings and regular inspections, and the permit can be suspended if the conditions are broken. Other parts of the hill are still under investigation.
Not everyone agrees with the reopening. Residents affected by the landslide asked for it to be delayed until an independent geological assessment, drainage work and compensation were completed, and a Phuket MP and the Phuket Bar Association have raised safety concerns. We note this so you can make your own decision; the temple says operations fully comply with the conditions.
After days of heavy rain, check before you drive up. The hillside's stability is the reason the site was closed for 18 months, and the permit can be suspended. In the wet season, roughly May to October on Phuket, ask your hotel or check local news on the day before you go.
Opening hours and entry
The temple announced daily opening hours of 09:00 to 18:00 at the reopening. That is shorter than the hours printed on many older travel sites, which often say the site opens at dawn and stays open into the evening. There is no official website for the site in English that we could find, so treat 09:00–18:00 as the current schedule and arrive by about 17:00 to see it in good light.
Entry was free when the site reopened, and the temple said it would review costs and visitor numbers after the first month. Flowers, incense and candles are provided for worshippers, and the temple committee says donations go only to running costs and maintenance of the site. Give what you think fair in the donation boxes; nobody should pressure you to pay a fixed amount.
What to wear at the Big Buddha
The Big Buddha is a place of worship with resident monks, so the usual temple dress applies: a top that covers your shoulders, and trousers, a long skirt or a sarong that covers your knees. Swimwear, sleeveless tops and short shorts are not appropriate, even though you are coming from the beach. Take off your shoes where signs ask you to.
Bring your own cover-up rather than relying on borrowing one at the site; we could not confirm whether sarongs are lent under the new management. A light scarf for your shoulders and a sarong in your bag solve the problem in a minute. The page on temple etiquette and dress codes covers behavior inside temples, and our article on what never to do in Thailand explains why pointing your feet at a Buddha image or climbing on statues causes offense.
Getting up Nakkerd Hill
The site is on a hilltop road between Chalong and Kata, and there is no public bus to the top. Most visitors come by taxi, Grab or Bolt, or with a tour that combines the Big Buddha with Wat Chalong and the viewpoints in the south. If you take a Grab up, check that you can get a ride back down before you let the driver go; agreeing a waiting time with a taxi is often simpler.
The road up is narrow, steep and winding. If you are not an experienced rider, do not take a rented scooter up it; our guide to renting a scooter in Phuket explains the insurance and licensing problems that follow an accident. The Phuket Smart Bus passes through Kata and Karon on the coast, which is useful for reaching the area but not the hilltop; see our page on getting from the airport to the beaches.
Combine the Big Buddha with a morning in the south. Kata, Karon and Rawai are all close by. Our comparison of Phuket's beaches helps you decide where to swim afterward, and Old Phuket Town is a short drive north-east for an afternoon.
The view and how long to stay
From the hilltop you look out over the south of the island, with Chalong Bay and its piers on one side and the west coast toward Kata and Karon on the other. Clear mornings in the dry season, roughly December to March, give the best visibility; in the wet season the view is often hazy or in cloud.
Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour at the top. It is a working religious site, so keep voices low near worshippers and the monks, and do not fly a drone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Big Buddha in Phuket open now?
Yes. It reopened on 3 March 2026 under the management of Wat Kittisangharam (Wat Kata), after closing following the August 2024 landslide. Opening hours announced at the reopening are 09:00 to 18:00 daily. After heavy rain, check local news before going.
How much does it cost to visit the Big Buddha?
Entry was free when the site reopened in March 2026, and the temple said it would review the arrangement after a month. Donations are welcome and, according to the temple committee, are used for running costs and maintenance.
Can I wear shorts to the Big Buddha?
Not short shorts. It is a temple, so cover your knees and shoulders. Bring a sarong or long trousers and a top with sleeves, because we could not confirm that cover-ups are still lent at the entrance.
How tall is Phuket's Big Buddha?
The white statue is about 45 meters tall, according to the Bangkok Post's reporting on the site. It stands on Nakkerd Hill, also written Nak Koet Hill, between Chalong and Kata in the south of the island.
Sources
- The Phuket News – Big Buddha reopens (3 March 2026) (checked October 2026)
- The Phuket News – Big Buddha's 25 conditions (7 March 2026) (checked October 2026)
- The Phuket News – Big Buddha to reopen to visitors (1 February 2026) (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Post – Phuket Buddha site ordered closed due to landslide risks (3 September 2024) (checked October 2026)
- Grab Thailand – Transport services and cities (checked October 2026)