Just a short drive from the city center, the Buddha Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Bangkok shore excursions. Has the local name as Khao Chi Chan, the mountain is well-known for the huge image of Buddha carved in the northern face. The Buddha sits in the posture of two legs crossing each other, one hand gently put on a knee while the other resting in the lap. Due to serving as the supplier providing material for housing construction in the area, the northern face of the mountain has a nearly smooth surface that an engineer said it is waste a perfectly good mountain if they don’t mark anything on it.
The image of Buddha was carved into the mountain surface in 1996 to celebrate the golden jubilee of Thailand King. It has the width of 70 meters, the height of 109 meters and is filled with molten gold due to the suggestion of Supreme Patriarch. They didn’t randomly draw the image on the mountain. Firstly, it was carefully designed by computer, and then at night, professional engineers drew the image on the side of the mountain by the laser which is easy to see in the condition lack of light. In the time of sunrise when the light coming, they fixed and adjusted to get the perfect image as they have created in the draft. Once the drawing process finished, they filled gold in the carved trenches.
In front of the spectacular sight of the mountain is a sacred temple where you can admire the sight of Thai monks wearing unique saffron robes which you can rarely meet on any shore excursions in Asia. Discreet clothes are compulsory including shirts covering shoulders and pants longer than knees. Moreover, the ground in front of Khao Chi Khan is also home to food stalls and souvenir shops in case you feel hungry after a stroll admiring the splendor mountain or want to pick up some local products as gifts to bring back home.
You can freely visit the mountain and temple without paying any fee. However, standing too close to the mountain is restricted because of threatening from falling stones causing visitor’s injuring. The Buddha Mountain can be easily reached to the south of Pattaya following Sukhumvit Road. Hop on Bangkok shore excursions, the driver will transfer you to the foot of the mountain, too convenient!
