Around Phuket island you can find
scattered Chinese Temples, Buddhist Wats and Muslim mosques. Here
below are the most visited.
Phra Nang Sang Temple (Wat Phra Narng Sarng) Located on Thep
Krasatri Rd., in Thalang Town at the tracffic light it is Phukets
oldest temple (app.250 years). The grounds of this historic
temple are where the Battle of Thalang took place in 1785. Inside
are three very old statues wrought in tin of the Buddha; they are
the largest in the world and date from a time when tin was
regarded as a semi-precious metal. The bellies of the three big
statues each contains a smaller statue, from which derives their
name, "Monks in the Belly" in local vernacular. or "The Three
Kings" in formal language.
Chalong Temple (Wat Chalong) is one of the
biggest temple on the island and is about about 8 kms. outside
Phuket town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn
left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your
left. This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who
helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese
Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are
also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam. Other
monks, who were abbots of the temple during later times, and who
are the objects of respect and recipients of the offerings by
Phuket people generally.
Phra
Tong Temple (Wat Phra Tong)
This temple enshrines a golden Buddha image that sprang up from
beneath the earth long ago. The story is of a young boy who tied
his buffalo to what he thought was a post; it was in an area at
that time given over to the raising of animals. After doing so, he
fell down in agony and died. The father of the boy dreamed that
the reason his son had died was for the sin of tying a filthy
buffalo to a sacred object, that what the boy thought was a post
was in reality the golden peak of the Buddha's conical cap. He
told his neighbors the dream and they all went out to dig up the
statue but had no success.
Later, at
the time of Thao Thep Kasatri's heroic defense against the Burmese
in 1785, the invaders tried to succeed where the villagers had
failed; their intention was to take the Buddha image back to
Burma. Sacred objects and slaves were then the most sought after
spoils for armies. The Burmese, however, were unable to retrieve
the golden Buddha despite several attempts; they were finally
driven off by a swarm of angry hornets.
After this the villagers decided to protect their miraculous
statue by covering the part that stuck up from the ground with a
plaster cast of Buddha's head and shoulders which is the way it is
today. Located north of the traffic light on the outskirts of
Thalang Town. A large sign shows the entrance.
Wat Suwan Khiri Wong
Located at Phisit karani Road in Patong.
Wat Ko Si – Le
Wat Thep Khachonchit
Located in Phuket town, Soi Wachira at Rang Hill.
Wat Thep Khachonchit
Located in Phuket town, Soi Wachira at Rang Hill.
Wat Choen Thale
Located at Choen Thale on road 4025.
Wat Ladthiwanaram
Located south of Phuket town on road 4021.
Phuket
Sea Shell Museum
Perhaps the world's most valuable collection of seashells has been
put on display at Phuket Seashell near Rawai Beach on the island's
southwestern shores. The emphasis is on shells from Phuket and
Thai waters, which are among the most sought-after by collectors,
however shells from every part of the world are featured. Wherever
they originate, each shell in the Shell Museum is the best of its
type--very often the only of its type. Displays have been created
in a logical order, and visitors can see at once differing
characteristics among related species.
There are numerous rarities and
freaks including the world's largest golden pearl (140 karats),
large sections of sedimentary rock containing shell fossils that
represent the earth's earliest life-forms, and a shell that weighs
250 kilograms. One of the world's great private museums, the Shell
Museum is open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. For details
call 381266, or 381274
Phuket Rare Stones
Museum
You see art. You see life. Located at 58/34 Thepkasatree Rd., Km.5
(about 700 meters from Super Cheap Store), It is a new tourists '
attraction where you see art, and you see life.
The most enjoyable part of visiting the Phuket Rare Stones Museum
is that after the brief look at all stones, you select 5-6 your
most interesting ones. Spending 5-10 minutes with each of the
selected stones, the picture will be floated out from the stones
as you imagine.
Each stone can conjure up a different picture in each person's
imagination. That is the art part. The deeper you imagine, the
more you will see, and that can be the life part.
Thalang National Museum
Ancient artifacts from Phuket 's long history are on
display; the oldest were found on the west coast. In addition
there are exhibits detailing the famous Battle of Thalang
involving the Two Heroines, daily life in Phuket, and the Sea
Gipsy culture. Tel. (076) 311025, 311426; open daily except
holidays 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Located just east of the Two
Heroines Monument on the Pa Khlok Rd.