Wat Phra Thong, Buddhist temple in Thep Krasatti, Thailand
The compound houses a half-buried gilded Buddha figure with its head and shoulders emerging from the ground, surrounded by separate prayer halls, red-roofed pavilions and numerous smaller shrines decorated with carved woodwork and traditional Thai motifs.
According to local accounts, a farmer plowing during the 19th century discovered the gilded figure, prompting several attempts to fully excavate it that were all abandoned and led to the construction of an assembly hall over the site.
This sanctuary functions as an active center of Theravada Buddhism where monks conduct daily rituals and devotees from across Phuket and neighboring provinces gather for meditation and prayer, particularly during major Buddhist festivals.
Entry requires clothing covering shoulders and knees, with sarongs available for loan at the entrance. The grounds open daily from dawn until evening and sit roughly 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of Phuket Town along Route 402, with parking available on site.
Local legends claim that wasps attacked anyone who attempted to fully uncover the figure, causing excavations to cease and leaving only the head and upper body visible while the rest remains concealed beneath a purpose-built structure.
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