The island of Koh Samui is not distinguished by its huge areas with endless open spaces. But they did not skimp on the construction of religious buildings. Big Buddha on Samui is considered a key sacred place where not only locals gather, but also curious tourists eager to touch the friendliest religion in the world.
What is Big Buddha?
Big Buddha is a majestic Buddha statue measuring a full twelve meters in height. He sits in the lotus position, a fundamental relaxing yoga asana that reflects mental peace and contact with spiritual forces. What is noteworthy is that the width of the statue is also impressive - the distance between the Buddha’s knees is six meters.
This architectural monument is located on the top of a small island that is connected to Samui by an embankment with an asphalt path. Near the statue is the Buddhist temple Wat Phra Yai. However, it is not part of the temple complex and has become a separate religious structure that reflects reverence for the great spiritual teacher.
Big Buddha has become the personification of spiritual purity and peace. According to legends, this place has become the guardian of the island, the safety and tranquility of people. People come here to cleanse themselves of sins, recharge with positive energy and simply get acquainted with the Samui religion.
The history of the creation of the Big Buddha
The Buddha statue on Samui, contrary to many opinions, was built not so long ago - in 1972. The religious population and guests of Thailand are confident that it is this structure that connects the island with heavenly patrons and protects the island from adversity and natural disasters.
Indeed, since the birth of the Big Buddha, Samui has only been developing. The island has become one of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world and remains important to this day. There is a place here for both lovers of a relaxed holiday and representatives of nightlife. The island is also plagued by natural disasters. Here the roofs are never blown away by aggressive winds, and the sea almost always remains calm.
What should you pay attention to?
The Buddha statue is a space of religious worship. However, it is famous for the fact that it accepts representatives of any religion: be it Christianity, Islam or Hinduism. With the same warmth, the Buddha “accepts” religion deniers - atheists and doubting agnostics who came to see the key figure of the Thai faith.
There is no place for discrimination based on skin color or eye shape, physiological characteristics, social status, gender and marital status. That is why Buddhism is considered a world religion, the doors of its temples are open to every inhabitant of our planet.
Since Big Buddha is installed on a hill, the ascent to it is made of sixty steps. Although the climb to the statue is not very steep, its length leaves no one indifferent. Elderly people and guests of the island with problems of the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular diseases are advised to save strength and climb in several approaches.
However, such an impressive staircase has its advantages. Its railings are made in the shape of an ornate serpent with dragon heads. This makes climbing stairs more aesthetically pleasing. Here you can take pictures or simply enjoy the skillful work of Thai craftsmen.
Sculptural composition next to the Big Buddha
The aesthetic picture of the religious site is formed not only by the Buddha statue, but also by the sculptures located near it. At the foot of the spiritual teacher is a reclining Buddha and his sculptures in various reincarnations.
The artistic legacy of Big Buddha does not end there. It is worth moving another hundred meters from the stairs, and guests are greeted by a sculptural composition, at the head of which stands a woman with sharp fangs. It is designed to drive away everyone who wants to harm the island and its inhabitants. The rest of the characters are not so bright, if only because they are not angry. A beautiful mermaid, a flute player, a horseman and a monk greet guests of the island with only good intentions.
At the foot of the Big Buddha there is a small shopping complex. It looks like a fair. Here you can buy figurines of Buddha, the White Elder, Amitayus, White Tara and many other Buddhist deities. Here you will also find traditional Buddhist clothing, amulets, and other jewelry that you can take with you to your homeland. The prices for souvenirs here are somewhat high. This is explained by the fact that the flow of tourists wanting to visit the Big Buddha is off the charts.
Visiting rules, statue opening hours and price
You should not visit the Buddha statue under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or with noisy children who may disturb other visitors. The statue is open to guests 24 hours a day, but souvenir shops are open from eight in the morning to ten in the evening. The entry fee is completely free, but you will still have to pay for items from the gift shop.
Big Buddha receives people in beachwear. However, you shouldn't go there in a bikini. A set of shorts + T-shirt is quite suitable. At the entrance, guests are offered a sarong - traditional oriental clothing. This service is absolutely free.
High in the mountains of Koh Samui, towering above Lamai, stands the Big Buddha. This Buddha was installed on Koh Samui not so long ago, so it is often called New Buddha, as well as Standing Big Buddha or Big Buddha in the mountains, his official name is Buddha Teepangkorn. Not many tourists know about this Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui: mostly everyone visits it on the Fan Peninsula in Bang Rak.
Standing Big Buddha high in the mountains of Koh Samui
Where is the Standing Big Buddha?
The Standing Big Buddha is located on top of one of the highest mountains on Samui, almost in the center of the island, between Lamai and Maenam.
Exact coordinates of the Big Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui: 9.501963, 100.006034
You can also see the location of Big Buddha and other attractions of the island on.
I will say right away that the road to the Big Buddha in the Samui mountains now (summer 2015) is not easy. They say that after the rainy season, for the high season, the road is improved, filled with concrete, etc., but at the moment, without good experience in driving a bike, it is better not to go to the top of the mountain. It’s also impossible to drive into the mountains in a low car, and there’s absolutely nowhere to turn around in the mountains. If you are not confident in your bike driving skills, you can either rent a jeep or buy a jeep safari tour around the island, during which you will visit several interesting places in the mountains of Samui. They take you on excursions in these cars
You can get to Big Buddha in the mountains:
- from the side (drive along Soi 1 into the mountains towards Lamai)
- from the outside (2 ways, which I will talk about now)
- from (only about 4 km of extreme mountain sports :)
Two paths to Buddha from Lamai
We drove to Buddha from ours. Before the trip, I read a little information on the Internet about how to get to the Standing Buddha, so we went according to the recommendation right road. This was our mistake!
Two roads from Lamai to the Standing Buddha in the mountains. It's better to take the left road, but we took the right one At first the road was good, through palm trees and tropical beauty around
We drove a little away from Lamai into the jungle. What a beauty! 🙂 Following the sign, we turned left into the jungle and almost immediately the road ended :)
Follow the sign to the left into the jungle There started to be such a mess on the road, stones, sand, potholes
The good road ended and extreme descents and ascents began 
Stones, sand 
Well, here's the bias I had to get off the bike and walk, and Lesha had to drive and periodically drag the bike up the mountain :) We can say that the road was reminiscent of the road to the very beautiful Koh Phangan.
It was very difficult for me to walk up the mountain. Anyone who knows me remembers how much I dislike walking :) And especially walking in the mountains. The situation was complicated by the fact that I was wearing flip-flops, which were slipping heavily on the sand and it seemed to me that I was about to fall or jump down a mountain... in addition, the sore leg made itself felt under such loads, and in general in some way At that moment I was ready to stay in the middle of the jungle to cry and not go further 🙁 Be that as it may, the path on the ground was overcome, the road became better, in some places it was even filled with concrete, and the two of us were able to ride the rest of the way to Buddha on a bike.
The road got better closer to Big Buddha 
Road to Big Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui And along the way, I passed durian plantations (after many years in Thailand, we only recently tried this fruit and just got hooked on it like a drug 🙂 Now we constantly want durian, and they are not cheap at all...) and view points with beautiful views.
Delicious durians grow along the road 
These are the beauties that open up on the way to Buddha 
The beauty of Koh Samui In the opposite direction from Big Buddha to Lamai, we took a different road. This road is much better, I advise you to climb it. Here, of course, you also need to be attentive and careful, but basically all sections of the road are filled with concrete, along which you can drive normally.
But still, a foreigner riding a bike in front of us fell on one of the turns, slipping on the sand. Be extremely careful in the mountains, check your brakes before descending and stop periodically to prevent the brakes from overheating.
To get to the “correct” road to Big Buddha in the mountains, at a fork you need to turn along the almost invisible yellow sign to Buddha Teepangkorn.
At this turn you need to turn towards Buddha. The pointer is a little worn 🙂 Maybe they’ll put up a new one soon Somewhere in the middle of the route there will be a hotel with a swimming pool and a beautiful view of the surrounding area. It would be interesting to live there, but how to get there every time? Obviously we need a helicopter :)
A beautiful place in the mountains! But how to get there?! Standing Big Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui
After a difficult journey up, we finally arrived at the Big Buddha. Buddha Tipangkorn is located on the temple grounds, the temple is still under construction, so the area is not well-kept. Construction began several years ago with donations from Samui residents and is proceeding at a very leisurely pace. Part of the complex has not yet been completed, and the other part of the complex is already beginning to fall apart...
We arrived at the complex As soon as we arrived and rested a little from the extreme journey, we were about to go look at the Buddha when several jeeps arrived with numerous noisy tourists (mostly Chinese). We decided to wait until they left and in the meantime go to the museum. The museum is located in this three-story building
This building houses a museum 
You must take off your shoes when entering Then I saw figures of animals with an incomprehensible thing in front. Does anyone know what these are and what they are needed for? 🙂 On the second floor of the museum there are Thai household items, photographs of the King and Queen.
I was very interested in the animal figurines in the museums on the temple grounds. I wonder what they are for? 
There is a museum on the second floor We go out onto the roof of the museum and find ourselves on the observation deck, which offers views of all four sides :) This is the highest point of Samui - 645 m above sea level.
We are at an altitude of 645 m above sea level From the observation deck you can see the back of Buddha, Lamai Beach, Ban Rak, Maenam, . They say that in good clear weather you can even see the mainland. Now the weather on Samui has been cloudy for a month, the sun pleases us with its presence no more than once a week, but that day near the Big Buddha in the mountains we were very lucky that the whole sky was not overcast. Visibility wasn't great, but at least something could be seen. And now there are very beautiful clouds in the sky above Koh Samui :)
View from the observation deck of Buddha and Lamai 
Bang Rak beach in haze 
Islands near Koh Samui 
Just beautiful clouds This observation deck on the roof of the museum is, in my opinion, a must-see. But for some reason the tourists who were brought in jeeps did not climb it. Although the view from it is much better than the view from the observation deck near the Standing Buddha himself. I think this is a good place to watch sunsets or sunrises. But how will he come down from this mountain later? Or maybe you can ask to stay with the monks for the night? 🙂
After about 20 minutes, the tourists left and we were left alone in the complex. Well, just like one: there, of course, there were also monks, builders and dogs :)
Monks at work Let's go to Big Buddha. Before entering the statue you must take off your shoes. In hot sunny weather, the tiles around the statue get very hot, but now, in the summer, it’s not hot at all on Samui, so you can safely walk around barefoot.
You must take off your shoes before entering 
Standing Big Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui It turns out that the statue of the Standing Buddha was assembled in parts. First, the statue was cast from clay in the Wat Lamai temple, the parts were transported to the mountain, and then assembled and installed.
Buddha is surrounded by three elephants. And along the perimeter there are statues of animals that symbolize the years according to the eastern calendar.
Buddha is surrounded by elephants 
And the figures of animals are the signs of the zodiac according to the eastern calendar 
The bunny is funny :) 
Near your year We were near the Big Buddha in the mountains at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the sun was shining directly on the top of the Buddha’s head, so these were the only photos we could take. I like the pose of this Buddha, it’s as if he’s saying: “Calm down, everything will be OK!” This Buddha seems to me the most optimistic of all Buddhas :)
Buddha in the sun's rays 
Everything will be OK :) 
Cool pose We look at the island from the observation deck. There is such beauty all around! And why did we stop noticing this beauty? Maybe it’s time to go somewhere in Russia-Ukraine for a couple of days so that we can immediately understand what kind of paradise we live in now?
Favorite island of Koh Samui and beloved Lamai 
Lamai closer 
There is also a statue of a reclining Buddha nearby. Buddha is sleeping :)
Buddha sleeps under the roof on the right 
Here's a closer look at the Buddha. Construction around it is still in full swing. So we walked around, looked around and drove back towards Lamai. The road down was much easier (as I wrote above, we were driving along a different road). And on the way home we stopped at Makro, bought more than a kilogram of shrimp and ate them on the veranda with a cold beer - what a great end to a hard day :) Come to Saumi, there are a lot of interesting things here :)
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How we went to the Big Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui :) Video
Standing Big Buddha in the mountains of Koh Samui on the map
Map with attractions and useful places of Koh Samui
Big Buddha on Samui (Big Buddha of Samui) is one of the main attractions and the largest statue on the island. This is one of the main places to see on Koh Samui, posted on information boards around the island, along with And . Tourists are brought here on a sightseeing tour. In general, every resort in Thailand has a statue of the Big Buddha, and Samui is no exception.
Buddha on Koh Samui: description
The multi-armed Buddha of Samui is located on a hill, reached by a staircase with 60 steps with images of seven-headed Naga snakes. It is believed that the Big Buddha of Samui protects Thais from all sorts of troubles. Nearby there is a Thai-style Wat Phra Yai temple and a school of Buddhism and meditation. To enter the territory, you need to hide the exposed parts of the body; nearby on the right are scarves that you can use to cover yourself. You can buy candles and incense downstairs and place them at the Big Buddha statue upstairs. Or tie a bracelet on your hand. Entrance to the Big Buddha is free.
For Thais, this is a sacred place and a functioning temple. Various events are held here, such as Makha Buch. So it is worth respecting the feelings of believers.
If you climb the steps, an observation deck opens up and you can even see the island of Koh Phangan. There are bells at the top, each of which can be rung for good luck and to fulfill wishes.
To the right of the Big Buddha of Samui there is a small parking lot (free of charge) with various statues.
From here you can go down to the sea and wet your feet in the heat. You have to be careful at the bottom, there are very sharp stones.
Infrastructure at the multi-armed Buddha of Samui
Everywhere around the entrance to the Big Buddha of Samui there are food stalls and shops with beach accessories. Prices are inflated on the tourist scale. Everyone buys, mostly tourists. It’s understandable, this is an attraction for tourists. Pancakes from 50 baht, coconut 40 baht, fruit shakes from 50 baht.
Big Buddha Samui: how to get there
Big Buddha Samui is located near Bangrak Beach and the ring road. The temple complex stands on a separate small island of Fan, which can be entered through an arch, not far from the pier. The Golden Buddha statue on Koh Samui can be seen from afar. You can even see it from a landing plane. 🙂
Bophut and Bangrak can be reached on foot.
One of the main attractions of Koh Samui is the huge 12-meter statue of the Big Buddha, which sits on the top of Fan Island in the lotus position. This statue can be seen from anywhere in Koh Samui. Big Buddha, in addition to its enormous size, is also covered in gold and was built in 1972.
When visiting Big Buddha, it seems that it is separated from the main island only by a gate, but in fact Big Buddha is located on a separate small island of Fan, which the locals connected by a dirt road to Koh Samui.
For locals, the Big Buddha statue is a sacred place where they come to cleanse themselves on weekends. There is also a belief among the locals that since the Big Buddha statue was built, the island of Koh Samui has become under its protection and protects it from misfortunes and natural disasters. And it’s true, Samui is becoming more and more popular among tourists every year and is developing rapidly.
To get to the Big Buddha statue itself, you need to climb the stairs, which you need to step on without shoes, but in front of the stairs there is a sign saying that if you come during the heat of the sun from 10 to 16 days, you can use shoes. Climbing to the top to the Buddha himself, you will see a beautiful view of Samui and the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. Having a residence permit in Thailand, be sure to buy a house in the Big Buddha area - incredibly beautiful views, and the Big Buddha is surrounded by other gilded statues as tall as a person.
In front of the stairs, locals wash smaller Buddha statues with water.
At Big Buddha there is a temple called Wat Phra Yai, as well as a school where, if desired, you can study the philosophy of Buddhism and learn meditation. Near the statue there are also sellers of things, drinks and fruits, naturally, tens of baht more expensive than in a regular place.
Photo of Big Buddha on Koh Samui
Koh Samui may be a small island, but there are more than 20 temples and pagodas on it, some free-standing and some entire complexes. In this video we talk about several temple complexes on Koh Samui that are worth visiting.
In the article below you will find a detailed description of the temples with photographs, their location on Koh Samui and interesting ways to make wishes.
Wat Phra Yai Temple and Big Buddha Statue | Wat Phra Yai & Big Buddha
One of the main attractions of Koh Samui is Big Buddha statue. It is located on the territory Wat Phra Yai temple. For local residents, this is the most sacred and revered place, bearing a deeply religious meaning. They come here on weekends to cleanse themselves of their sins. It is believed that Samui is protected as long as the Buddha statue is intact.
We are with our friends from St. Petersburg on the square in front of Big Buddha
The statue has already become a symbol of Samui, and how could it be otherwise, because it can be seen within a radius of several kilometers from different points on the island. Even landing planes cannot “pass it by” and fly directly over it when landing.
This is the same embankment road that is clearly visible from above
The gilded statue of Big Buddha was installed in 1972 and since then it has begun to serve as a reliable talisman against all kinds of problems and water misfortunes. There is a belief that with the construction of the Big Buddha statue, the island began to be under the protection of heavenly patrons and all sorrows and hardships began to bypass it. And indeed this is so - every year Samui is noticeably developing and prospering.
The height of the Buddha is as much as 12 meters. Behind the Buddha statue there is a wheel with 12 spokes, each of which represents nidana - a link.
Behind the Buddha statue there is a wheel with 12 spokes, each of which represents nidana - a link
A long staircase, 60 steps, leads to the foot of the statue. Before using it, you must take off your shoes and even socks. This rule applies when entering all temples, as well as when approaching revered statues.
Exception for this temple: from 10:00 to 16:00 is the time when the steps of the stairs are so hot that you are allowed to climb them in shoes.
Advice: When visiting Buddhist temples, avoid wearing overly revealing clothing. Try to cover your shoulders and knees.
We first took off our shoes and, satisfied, took photos together.
On both sides of the stairs, instead of railings, there are snake-like mythical creatures - naked - with a fan of snake heads.
Serpent-like mythical creatures - nagas - with a fan of snake heads
If you are interested in Buddhism, to the left of the stairs under the awnings sit monks who, for a donation, put a blessed rope on your hand for good luck and bless you. You can also buy incense sticks, gold foil and flowers from them. At the top, send large incense to the Big Buddha, 7 small sticks to the small Buddhas, decorate the golden statues with foil.
The monks put a blessed rope on your hand for good luck and bless you
Big Buddha sits in the lotus position and carefully watches everyone who rises to him. His gaze is directed precisely at the newcomers climbing the stairs. When you rise to the Buddha, you get the impression that he is looking exactly at you. Having overcome the stairs and climbed to the Buddha, you need to look at him and make a wish.
When you rise to the Buddha, you get the impression that he is looking right at you
At the top is an open area with bells and stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Phangan. You can walk around its perimeter, knock on all the bells with a special stick (issued on the spot for free), thereby attracting good luck and clearing karma. Make a wish, it will definitely come true. In the evening, many come here to admire the beautiful sunset.
Top view | The Biggest Buddha | Big Buddha on Koh Samui and other temples | Big Buddha Samui
You can be alone with your thoughts or ask Buddha to fulfill your desire.
Ask Buddha to grant your wish
Advice: Try not to turn your back to the Big Buddha statue, and when sitting down, do not point your feet towards the sculpture.
The statue is located on the top of the small island of Fan, which is connected to Koh Samui by a causeway. Not far from the statue is Bangrak Beach, or as it has recently been called Big Buddha Beach.
Top view | The Biggest Buddha | Big Buddha on Koh Samui and other temples | Big Buddha Samui
Wat Phra Yai is an active Buddhist temple. There is a school at the temple. At the school, anyone can learn the basics of Buddhist philosophy and learn meditation techniques.
The monks accept donations to build new walls for the temple. At the foot of the Big Buddha you can buy tiles from them, thereby making a contribution to the history of Samui. Write your name and wishes on it, then return it to the monk. These painted tiles are then used to cover the roofs of houses. And the bright tiled roofs of the buildings of the temple itself are built very skillfully and form a wonderful unity with the flowering trees around.
You can write your wish on these tiles and take part in the construction of the temple.
There is a picturesque Thai market around the temple. Here you can buy souvenirs and light white clothes made of natural fabric, jewelry made of semi-precious stones, local sweets and drinks, including the famous Thai pancakes. There are also many shops and stalls with handicrafts from local craftsmen scattered here.
A very unusual store. It's a pity that photography is prohibited inside
I was especially impressed by these iron giants and small figures assembled from various spare parts: nuts, chains, parts from bikes and other things. Busts of Buddha, recognizable cartoon and movie characters, elephants and much more were created. The cost of the largest statues is 100,000 - 200,000 baht (100-200 thousand rubles)
We decided to come back here later and buy one for our dacha
If you walk straight from the Big Buddha statue to the water, you will see an unusual sculptural composition.
The most memorable statue is a Woman with fangs and a naked torso, eating her enemies. It immediately becomes clear what the local residents are asking for.
Just a woman with fangs and a naked torso
The smaller sculptures are not particularly impressive: it is a green animal (with antlers and a body like a deer, a fish tail and a dragon's head), on which a rider sits.
What they symbolize, it seems to us, not even all Thais know
Mermaid with a naked torso.
Just a bare-chested mermaid
Opposite her is an old man.
I liked the old man the most, he is the cutest of all those presented here
And a couple more strange sculptures.
Someone sits and plays an inaudible melody, and someone dances nearby
All the sculptures stand in the water, but at low tide you can also find them on land.
Who knows what these figures represent? Write to us in the comments, it’s interesting
Entrance to the temple territory is free.
9.57069, 100.06035
It is worth extending the tour to a place that is more interesting in our opinion - Wat Plai Laem Temple, which is located a 15-minute walk away.
Another pearl of Samui is Wat Ban Plai Laem, an extremely beautiful temple complex not far from the Big Buddha statue, created by Thai artists. Today, this temple is the most modern creation of Buddhist architecture on Samui. It was erected in 2004 entirely with donations from believers. The temple building consists of three parts, each of which, according to the architect’s idea, is made in its own style: classical Thai, Chinese, Indian. The temple complex is located on a lake, and thanks to the work of the designers, it gives the impression of floating on the water.
The center of Wat Plai Laem is the beautiful Bot - a richly decorated room for general meetings and prayers. This building, like the two main sculptures of the temple, is located on an island in the shape of a lotus flower and looks especially good at sunset, when the last rays of the setting sun paint it in warm colors.
The eight boundary stones (Bai Sema) around it are small, brightly decorated turrets with stylized Botke tree leaves inside.
Everything is gilded, shimmers beautifully and shines in the bright sun.
Indescribably beautiful, the entrance doors of the temple were made from two giant tree trunks and covered with carved paintings from the life of Buddha. Thai artist Khun Jarit Phumdonming spent more than three years decorating the outer walls of the temple with the finest details, thanks to which they turned into a real kaleidoscope of colors and patterns.
Inside Botha, according to tradition, there is an altar with a golden statue of Buddha. The walls of the room are decorated with colorful frescoes reflecting various events of Buddhist mythology. The interiors of the temple make you admire the picturesque paintings on the walls, which tell about episodes from the life of Gautama Buddha.
Entrance doors of the temple of indescribable beauty | Temple complex Wat Ban Plai Laem | Wat Ban Plai Laem
To the right and left of Bot, on separate islands, there are 12-meter statues, which perfectly symbolize the influence that the teachings of neighboring regions had on Thai Buddhism. On the one hand, this is the Eighteen-Armed Guanyin (the same “many-armed Buddha”) the goddess of mercy, protector of the weak, patroness of the female half of the house and the feminine principle. She is a character from Chinese mythology and is also known as Guanzizai.
On the island on the other side is the “Laughing” or “Fat” Buddha, who is none other than Hotei - one of the most famous heroes of netsuke, miniature figures originally from Japan. According to legend, a fat monk named Qi Qi wandered around the world, making his living by making predictions. All his few possessions consisted of a staff and a canvas bag (in Japanese, Hotei). The monk's huge belly was considered the center of vitality.
According to legends, wherever Hotei appeared, luck, prosperity and good health came to people. In Japan, he is one of the seven deities of happiness, and in the Buddhist religion - the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha. In order for this deity to fall in favor with you, you need to rub his stomach, although this is extremely difficult to do in this particular case, given the size of the statue. However, you can limit yourself to purchasing a miniature figurine of Hotei in a local souvenir shop.
The "Laughing" or "Fat" Buddha, who is none other than Hotei
No less picturesque are the other buildings of the Plai Laem Temple - Wihan (another place for prayers and meetings), the bell tower, bright sculptural compositions depicting the Dharmachakra - the Wheel of Life, the most important symbol of Buddhism, as well as the crematorium, noticeable with its tall chimney.
Insanely beautiful Vihan building (another place for prayers and meetings)
Sculptural compositions depicting the Dharmachakra - the Wheel of Life
Wat Ban Plai Laem also called "fish temple". By purchasing fish food for 10 baht (10 rubles), you can cause a real stir in a seemingly quiet lake. The neighboring pigeons are also not averse to enjoying the treats, but you should not encourage them - traces of their vital activity will not decorate the paths to the islands, which, by the way, must be walked barefoot. For a nominal fee you can rent a catamaran in the shape of a swan and admire the temple and statues from the water.
In addition to visiting religious buildings, it’s simply a pleasure to walk around the spacious grounds of the Wat Plai Laem monastery. The territory of the complex is decorated with many sculptures. All of them are made in different styles: some are gilded, some are painted, and some look almost alive. Entering its territory, it seems that this is the scenery for a fairy-tale film. In our opinion, this is the most beautiful temple complex on Koh Samui.
Numerous sculptures on the territory of Wat Ban Plai Laem | Wat Ban Plai Laem
Visiting the monastery is absolutely free. The amount of donations is entirely at your discretion. A standard set of a bouquet, three candles and the same number of incense sticks usually costs 20 baht (20 rubles).
Advice: Avoid clothing that is too revealing, exposing shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes when entering the temple and in front of the paths leading to the statues.
On the territory of the temple you can also feed yourself delicious pancakes with various fillings. We recommend trying it with tuna and cheese.
The temple is located near the Big Buddha statue and is quite easy to find.
GPS coordinates on Google map: 9.571361,100.067207
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