Wat Chalong and the story of Luang Pho Chaem

The island's most important temple, where locals light firecrackers to thank a monk for answered wishes.

Area

Old town & culture

Start from

Chalong

Distance

about 20–30 min from Kata or Phuket Town

Time needed

1–2 hours

Best season

All year

Difficulty

Easy

Transport

Taxi, Grab, scooter

Tickets & rules

Free entry

Why go

Wat Chalong is the largest and most revered temple on Phuket. Its tall chedi is said to contain a fragment of the Buddha's bone, and its halls are decorated with murals and statues of famous monks.

Unlike many temples that feel like attractions, Wat Chalong is busy with real worship. Families bring offerings, lay gold leaf on statues and, in a curious local custom, set off strings of firecrackers in special ovens to say thank you when a wish has come true.

Climb to the top floors of the chedi for a view over the grounds and the hills.

Inside the Grand Pagoda, the walls and ceilings are covered with paintings of the life of the Buddha, and the different floors hold dozens of small statues and offerings. The relic itself sits in a glass case on the top floor, surrounded by gold. It's a calm, slightly dim space, and on a hot afternoon it's a relief to sit there for a while.

Around the grounds you'll also find an old wooden house kept as a museum, a hall with life-like wax figures of revered monks, and a pond with turtles that people release for merit.

The story

In 1876 Chinese tin miners rose up in a violent rebellion on the island. The abbot of Wat Chalong, Luang Pho Chaem, helped injured people of all sides with herbal medicine and is said to have given villagers protective amulets and shirts. His reputation as a healer and protector made the temple a centre of devotion.

Statues of Luang Pho Chaem and his successor Luang Pho Chuang stand in the main hall, and many locals still pray to him for health and luck.

During Chinese New Year and Songkran the temple holds big fairs, with food stalls, Ferris wheels and Thai boxing, attracting families from all over the island. It's a good example of how temples in Thailand are also community centres, not only places of worship.

Getting there

Wat Chalong is on the main road between Chalong roundabout and Phuket Town; any driver knows it. There's a large car park.

Songthaew buses between Phuket Town and Chalong also pass the temple; ask the driver to stop at Wat Chalong.

A suggested plan

1. VisitWalk the grounds, enter the main hall with the statues of Luang Pho Chaem.
2. ChediClimb the stairs inside the Grand Pagoda to see the relic and murals.
3. AfterCombine with the Big Buddha nearby.
4. OptionalOn major Buddhist holidays the temple holds candle processions in the evening; join quietly at the back if you happen to be there.

Where to stay

Easy add-on to any day in the south.

Good to know

• Cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes before entering buildings.
• Morning is quieter and cooler.
• Small donations are appreciated.
• Buy a small lotus and incense set at the gate if you want to make an offering yourself.
• There are clean toilets and drinks stalls near the car park.