Khao Chi Chan (Buddha Mountain)
📍 Chonburi, Sattahip
A 109-metre golden Buddha laser-etched and gold-inlaid into the sheer face of a limestone cliff — a serene giant gazing out over a lake and lotus garden, created to save the scarred quarry mountain from further blasting.
Drive inland from Pattaya and a grey limestone mountain suddenly reveals an enormous seated Buddha carved into its cliff face — 109 metres tall and outlined in gold leaf and gold mosaic that glints for kilometres.
Why It’s Interesting
The quarry mountain of Khao Chi Chan was being eaten away by blasting until, in 1996, the image was commissioned to honour King Bhumibol’s golden jubilee and to protect the rock for good. The line drawing of the Buddha in the Sukhothai style was laser-etched into the stone and then inlaid with gold, making it one of the largest such cliff images anywhere. A calm lawn, lake, and lotus garden spread out below, framing the giant perfectly.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. Visit in the late afternoon, when low sun rakes across the cliff and lights the gold outline against the grey rock.
Getting There
About 25 km south of Pattaya with no direct bus, so drive or take a taxi/Grab. It pairs neatly with the nearby vineyard and the temple complex of Wat Yansangwararam.
📸 Mon-chan's camera roll
Snapshots from our very good boy on the road.
Where it is
You might also like
The Erawan Museum
Ancient City (Muang Boran)
Wat Pariwat (The David Beckham Temple)
Bangkok Snake Farm (Queen Saovabha Institute)
Nearby discoveries
Talat Noi
The Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha)
Songkran (Thai New Year)
Tham Phraya Nakhon
Comments
- No comments yet — be the first to share a tip.