Khao Chi Chan
Khao Chi Chan is a large Buddha image carved directly into a cliff face in Chonburi Province, on the eastern coast of Thailand. The figure is shown in a meditation pose and is outlined with gold leaf, which makes it visible from a considerable distance across the surrounding landscape.
The carving was made in the late 1980s to mark the 60th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The work involved blasting sections of the rock face before craftsmen shaped the final figure by hand.
The carved Buddha is a place of active worship, and visitors often see people lighting incense and placing flowers at the base of the cliff. The name Khao Chi Chan refers to the hill itself, which local people have long considered sacred.
The site is located a short drive from Pattaya and is most easily reached by car or hired vehicle. Because it is a place of worship, visitors are expected to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
Although the image looks painted from a distance, the gold that outlines the figure was applied leaf by leaf by devoted workers over many months. Much of the gold leaf was donated by people from across Thailand, making the finished work a collective act of faith rather than a single commissioned project.
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