# Wat Chalong, Phuket > Wat Chalong is Phuket's most important and revered temple, 10 km south of Old Town. Its symbol is a chedi about 60 m tall that holds a relic of the Buddha. Entry is free and it's open daily 7:00–17:00. Cover shoulders, chest and knees, and take your shoes off at the halls. An hour is enough. It's 15 minutes from the Big Buddha. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/wat-chalong - City: [Phuket](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket), Thailand - YesGo score: 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; donations welcome - Hours: Daily 7:00–17:00; may change on holidays - Dress code: Shoulders, chest and knees covered; no vests, short skirts or bare midriffs - Shoes: Off at the door of every temple building - Photos and video: Allowed; keep your voice down and don't touch the statues - Where: Chalong, ≈ 10 km south of Old Town; free parking - Coordinates: 7.84667, 98.33667 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **29** — Buddhist temples on Phuket — Wat Chalong is the most important (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 60 m** — the height of the Phra Mahathat chedi, which holds a Buddha relic (source: travel guides) - **19th century** — the temple dates from the early 1800s; its official name is Wat Chaiyathararam (source: wat-chalong-phuket.com; English Wikipedia) - **2 monks** — the temple honours Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, who healed locals with herbs (source: English Wikipedia) - **Firecrackers** — are set off in a brick oven when a prayer has been answered (source: wat-chalong-phuket.com) - **February** — the annual Wat Chalong Fair, around Chinese New Year (source: wat-chalong-phuket.com) - **1–2 hours** — is a typical visit (source: wat-chalong-phuket.com) - **≈ 8 km** — to the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill (source: OSRM route) ## Opening hours, entry and rules **Entry is free**, with donations welcome. The temple is open **daily from 7:00 to 17:00**; the grounds can usually be walked outside those hours, and holidays may change the schedule. Parking is free. **Shoulders, chest and knees** must be covered — no vests, short skirts or bare midriffs. **Shoes come off** at the door of every building. Photos and video are allowed, but keep your voice down and don't touch the statues or relics. ## What is Wat Chalong? **Wat Chalong** (officially Wat Chaiyathararam) is the most important of **Phuket's 29 Buddhist temples**. It was built in the early 19th century in Chalong, south of Old Town. It honours two revered monks, **Luang Pho Chaem** and **Luang Pho Chuang**, who knew herbal medicine and helped local people. Their statues stand in the main hall, where people come for blessings. The main building is the **Phra Mahathat chedi**, about **60 m** tall. According to guides, a **relic of the Buddha** is kept in a glass case on its top floor. Inside are several floors of murals of the Buddha's life and statues. > **Those loud bangs are firecrackers** Don't be alarmed by sudden explosions: locals light firecrackers in a dedicated brick oven when their prayers have been answered, as thanks to the monks. If you're sensitive to noise, keep away from the oven. The best time to visit is early morning, 7:00–9:00: fewer people, less heat, and you may see the monks' morning rituals. ## What to see - **The Phra Mahathat chedi** — about 60 m, with a Buddha relic at the top. - **The murals inside the chedi** — scenes from the Buddha's life across several floors. - **The main hall** with statues of Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang. - **The firecracker oven** — a local tradition of thanks. - **The garden and pavilions** of the temple courtyard. - **A monk's blessing** in the main hall, if monks are present. ## How to get to Wat Chalong 1. **From Phuket Old Town** it's about 10 km south on Chaofa Road West — 15–20 minutes by taxi or Grab. 2. **From Karon Beach** it's about 11 km, 15 minutes. 3. **From Patong** it's about 18 km, 25 minutes. 4. **From the Big Buddha** it's about 8 km down the hill, 15 minutes. 5. The address is 70 Moo 6, Chaofa Road West; parking at the temple is free. ## How long do you need, and when to go? Allow **1–2 hours**. **7:00 to 9:00** is best, before the tour buses and the heat. By midday the groups arrive, and it can be stuffy inside the chedi. Every **February**, around Chinese New Year, the temple hosts a big annual **fair**: markets, a concert stage, rides and firecrackers. It's crowded but very atmospheric. Wat Chalong pairs well with the **Big Buddha** and **Promthep Cape** for sunset. ## Is Wat Chalong worth visiting? Yes: it's the island's main temple, free and beautiful, with views from the chedi's upper floors. It shows living Buddhism on Phuket, not just a tourist showpiece. The YesGo take: midday brings tour groups and souvenir sellers, and the firecrackers can startle children. If you've seen Bangkok's temples, Wat Chalong looks modest — but as a stop on the way to the Big Buddha, it's well worth it. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Shoulders, chest and knees covered - [ ] Shoes that slip off easily - [ ] Arriving in the morning, before 9:00 - [ ] A little cash for a donation - [ ] Next: the Big Buddha and Promthep Cape ## Phuket temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Phuket rated by YesGo. - [Wat Chalong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/wat-chalong) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phuket-big-buddha) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free (donations) ## Southern Phuket in a day Wat Chalong in the morning, the Big Buddha on the hill in the afternoon, and Promthep Cape for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Wat Chalong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/wat-chalong) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free 2. [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phuket-big-buddha) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free (donations) 3. [Promthep Cape](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/promthep-cape) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free ## Good to know Wat Chalong is the temple in the Chalong area. Chalong Pier and Chalong Bay, where island boats depart, are different places in the same district. ## Tips - Climb to the chedi's top floor — the relic and the view over the temple are there. - In the morning you may catch the monks' rituals. - Steer clear of the firecracker oven with small children. - In February, check the fair dates — the best time for atmosphere. - Next: the [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phuket-big-buddha), 15 minutes by car. ## Questions ### How much is entry to Wat Chalong? Entry is free; donations are welcome. ### What are Wat Chalong's opening hours? Daily from 7:00 to 17:00. ### What is the Wat Chalong dress code? Shoulders, chest and knees covered; shoes off at the door of every building. ### What is kept in the Wat Chalong chedi? According to guides, a relic of the Buddha, on the top floor. ### Why are firecrackers set off at the temple? Locals light them as thanks when a prayer has been answered. ### How do I get to Wat Chalong? About 10 km south of Old Town, 15–20 minutes by taxi or Grab. ### How long do you need? 1–2 hours. ### When is the Wat Chalong Fair? Every February, around Chinese New Year. ## How we checked Hours of 7:00–17:00, free entry, dress and photo rules, free parking, the firecracker tradition and the 16–22 February 2026 fair come from wat-chalong-phuket.com; it's not confirmed that the site belongs to the temple, so these are marked unconfirmed. The chedi's height and the relic are from guides. The official name and the patron monks are from English Wikipedia; in line with YesGo policy we don't go into the events of 1876. Distances are OSRM routes from Old Town (9.5 km), Karon (10.7 km), Patong (17.7 km) and the Big Buddha (8 km). ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Wat Chalong: Phuket's 29 temples, official name, patron monks - wat-chalong-phuket.com — hours, entry, dress code, shoes, photos, parking, firecrackers, best time, 2026 fair - 2026 travel guides — chedi height, Buddha relic (unofficial) - Wikidata Q461025 — coordinates; OSRM route — distances --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.