Other sights in Phuket Province
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Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
The 125-sq-km Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, just south of town, is a splendid collection of sea cliffs, mountains, beaches, estuaries, forested valleys and mangroves. The park is home to hornbills, drongos, tapirs, gibbons, monkeys and the seldom-seen Asiatic black bears. Guided treks along the coast or inland can be arranged through many tour agencies in town, as can long-tail boat trips up the scenic Khlong Thap Liang estuary. The latter afford opportunities to view mangrove communities of crab-eating macaques. Just north of Khao Lak is a network of sandy beach trails – some of which lead to deserted beaches – which are fun to explore on foot or by hired motorbike. Mos…
reviewed
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Khao Phra Thaew National Park
The last of Phuket’s virgin rainforest is within the boundaries of this reserve, which includes the Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre and two waterfalls. There once were tigers and Malayan sun bears here, but today it’s a habitat island that still suffers from timber poaching. It isn’t lifeless, however. There are monkeys, langur, civets, flying foxes, cobras and wild pigs in the bush, and there are some wild and semi-wild gibbon families thanks to rehab. Khao Phra is the park’s highest peak at 442m. There are guided 6km hikes available from Ton Sai falls to Bang Pae falls. Guides gather at Ton Sai (the park’s HQ) in the morning and charge about 1000B for the day. This …
reviewed
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Wat Phra Thong
Phuket’s ‘Temple of the Gold Buddha’ is half buried so that only the head and shoulders are visible above ground. According to local legend, those who have tried to excavate the image have become very ill or encountered serious accidents. The temple is particularly revered by Thai Chinese, many of whom believe the image hails from China. During Chinese New Year pilgrims descend from Phang-Nga, Takua Pa and Krabi. In addition to Phra Thong there are 11 other Buddha images, including a Phra Praket (an unusual pose in which the Buddha is touching his own head with his right hand). Each promises a different virtue (success, health, wealth etc) to those who make offerings.…
reviewed
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Thalang National Museum
The museum contains five exhibit halls chronicling Phuket’s history and tracing the various ethnicities found in southern Thailand. The legend of the ‘two heroines’ (memorialised on the nearby monument), who supposedly drove off an 18th-century Burmese invasion force by convincing the island’s women to dress like men, is also recounted in detail utilising backlit display panels and touch-screen electronic presentations. The prize artefact is a 2.3m-tall statue of Vishnu, which dates to the 9th century and was found in Takua Pa nearly 100 years ago.
reviewed
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Phra Phitak Chyn Pracha Mansion
The namesake of this once abandoned, ochre-tinted mansion owned a number of tin mines in the early 20th century. The mansion sat forlorn for decades, its hanging shutters, overgrown lawn and friendly ghosts offering an eerie tumbledown grace to anyone who dared cross the creaky gates. At research time it was under major renovation and being converted into a tony Thai eatery, a sister to London’s famed Blue Elephant.
reviewed
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Secret View Point
If you veer up the rise on the left instead of following the road to its end at Hat Nai Han, you will remain on Hwy 4233 towards Laem Phromthep. But you don’t have to go that far for a sensational view. At the top of the hill there is a turn-off and a small gazebo to the right. Pull over here – you’ll see a vendor and a few tourists, and you’ll have an outrageous north-facing panorama sans tour buses.
reviewed
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Romadon Gallery
Surrealism lives on in the anthropomorphised animals gleaming on Romadan’s canvases. He’s painted here since 1975, and originality is the keyword. Our favourite was the canvas of night-blooming flowers, a Muslim crescent moon, leaf-shaped clouds and a spaceship. His version of Pan, the human-goat God, is also unique. The doors are always open, but if you want to buy something, call the man.
reviewed
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Hat Ya Noi
Tucked between Hat Nai Han and Laem Phromthep, where the road dips back down to the sea, is this lovely cove with a healthy rock reef that is ideal for snorkelling. You’ll have to watch your step to get into the ocean, but once you’re there you’ll want to stay a while. This is the quintessential turquoise bay, with lush mountains behind and an island dominating the horizon.
reviewed
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Wat Pho
Second on the tourist itinerary after Wat Phra Kaew, this temple has many curious corners (and traditional massage pavilions) to explore beyond the crowd-pleasing reclining Buddha, a 46m-long and 15m-high figure illustrating Buddha’s passing into nirvana. It’s also home to Thailand’s largest collection of Buddha images and the earliest centre for public education.
reviewed
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Wat Nai Han
During research a new temple was nearly complete at this monastery compound. But it isn’t the architecture that’s interesting. This is a working monastery, so if you show up at dawn you can watch, or even join in, as the monks chant scripture. There are worse ways to begin a day. Ask permission from a monk the day before.
reviewed
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Wat Suwankhiri
Unlike some of the more tourist-friendly temples, this overgrown compound sports rambling roosters, sleeping dogs and (usually) locked temple doors. But the tiered roof of the cremation shrine is lovely, and the warbling voice of a monk reciting scripture over the PA lends the scene some poetry.
reviewed
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Bang Pae Falls
The waterfall is a 300m walk up a jungled earth and concrete path from the gibbon rehab centre, and you can hear the gibbons’ haunting songs all the way. During the dry season, the waterfall isn’t exactly spectacular, but there are swimming holes deep enough for daring jumps.
reviewed
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Wat Chalong
This bustling, tiered temple has 36 Buddhas seated, reclining and meditating on the first two floors. Concrete serpents line the banisters and the lotus pond outside. It’s not an antique, but it possesses a spiritual vibration, especially when worshippers pay their respects.
reviewed
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Wat Karon
Set back from the road is a relatively new temple complex with a small shrine occupied by a seated, black-stone Buddha. Behind it is the striking crematorium with its tiered roof – which only opens on ceremonial days. The grounds are lush with banana, palm and mango trees.
reviewed
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Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine
This shrine attracts those wishing to bolster their physical health through prayer. It’s also a base for serious (read: violently pierced) participants during the Vegetarian Festival, which makes it a great place to stake out and snap photos like the cultural paparazzi.
reviewed
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Karon View Point
Further along the highway from After Beach Bar is this majestic viewpoint. From here, your view extends from the northern reaches of Karon to the Phromthep Cape. Come for sunset. But don’t linger late at night. There have been attacks and robberies in the wee hours.
reviewed
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Rinda Magical Art
Want to smile? Step inside this swirling mélange of whimsical surrealism. The 30-something owner artists are a joy to chat with. They give art classes on the premises (but only take serious students) and they also teach art in Phuket’s juvenile detention facility.
reviewed
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Wat Sireh
Perched on Sireh’s highest point, and accessed by a driveway adjacent to the school, is an overgrown, sun-faded temple surrounded by dozens of gold-painted Buddhas. Inside is a massive reclining Buddha, and the verandahs offer even more impressive sea views.
reviewed
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Ao Sane
From Hat Nai Han it appears as if the road dead-ends into the yacht club. Not true. Keep following the road through the underground parking structure and it pops out on the other side and continues to a small but beautiful, boulder-strewn white-sand beach.
reviewed
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Thai Gallery
If you’re into Buddhist art you’ll love these slick, well-thought-out pieces steeped in regional and ethereal beauty. There are neon lotus flowers, limestone karsts, tropical fish and bodhi trees all drenched in shafts of sun and moonlight.
reviewed
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Red Gallery
One of the area’s fabulously funky artist-owned galleries. There are several artists showing here, but the star is Anda. She started by painting on wood and moved into inlays and other multimedia. Her work blends sculpture and painting.
reviewed
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Hat Tri-Triang
Can you really find peace on a beach just around the corner from Patong? Hell yes. Sheltered by boulders to the north and a headland to the south, this tiny bay is an antidote for your Patong-weary soul. You won’t even see the sprawl.
reviewed
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Good Luck Shrine
A lovely, golden Bodhisattva statue, guarded by carved elephants festooned with flowers, incense and candles, with a sea backdrop. This is a nice spot to connect with the divine or simply make a wish and savour the sound of...silence.
reviewed
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Masjid Mukaram Bang Tao
The peeling, white facade and sea-green mosaic domes make for a striking image against the blue sky and jungled hills. Come at the obligatory hour and you’ll glimpse a steady, serene stream of prayer traffic. Visitors are welcome.
reviewed
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Lumphini Park
Bangkok’s biggest central park has nurtured many a bike rider, jogger, tàkrâw (a Thai football game) player and t’ai chi practitioner. After developing the Bangkok cough, try a few gulps of fresh air at Lumphini.
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