Wat Phra Yai – Big Buddha Hill

Thailand is famous for its glittering, magnificent and sacred gold-plated temples. Any visitor to Thailand must visit at least one temple as it is a unique feature and symbol of the country. A top destination that every visitor should visit to admire its beauty is Wat Phra Khao Yai, also known as Big Buddha Hill in Pattaya. Wat Phra Khao Yai is an ancient temple recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. For Buddhist followers, this is also an attractive spiritual pilgrimage destination.

Wat Phra Khao Yai was built in 1940 when Pattaya was still a fishing village. This temple is located on top of Pratumnak hill, between Pattaya and Jomtien beaches. It is known by other names such as Wat Yai Chaimongkhon or Big Buddha Hill. Wat Phra Yai is an ancient and mysterious temple in Thailand, regularly welcoming countless tourists from many countries to visit, admire, pilgrimage or exchange Buddhist culture.

On the way to the temple, visitors will be impressed by the 18m high Buddha statue seen from afar. This giant Buddha statue is one of the familiar sights of foreign tourists and also attracts many local residents to worship and pray. In addition to the large statue, the temple also has a system of smaller statues with the beautiful surroundings of Jomtien beach highlighting the temple's façade.

The stairs to the temple are very straight, with a railing in the shape of a seven-headed Naga snake according to Theravada Buddhism. After reaching the top, tourists will see many statues with different poses (lying or standing) representing different days of the week. Visiting Wat Phra Yai requires a bit of walking, but visitors will not have much difficulty because the steps are quite easy to walk and not very steep. When entering the temple, at the foot of the stairs, if you make a small donation, you will be "blessed" by the monks as a thank you. There is also a treasure chest at the bottom of the stairs, next to the giant Laughing Buddha, where tourists can donate to the temple. The atmosphere inside the temple is very quiet and peaceful, giving tourists a feeling of relaxation and optimism. Along with that tranquility, visitors must be especially gentle and courteous in every step and action to match the sacred and ancient space. Another activity when visiting Big Buddha Hill is ringing the bell with a large stick, which is said to bring good luck and prosperity to those who do.

The impressive Wat Phra Khao Yai is an outstanding spiritual destination for travelers to Pattaya, especially for those who are interested in Buddhism or simply come to worship and pray. Pratumnak Hill is just 2 km from South Pattaya and all visitors get free admission. There is a songtaew (a popular public transport in Pattaya improved from a pickup truck) or a shuttle bus to the destination for as little as 200 baht. Opposite Wat Phra Yai is a Chinese temple dedicated to Confucius, Guan Yin and a Taoist temple well worth a visit.

Opening hours: daily, 07:00 - 19:00

Ticket price: free

Note: Do not wear off-the-shoulder tops and shorts above the knee when visiting the temple.