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Feb 2, 2010 Grant Osborn
Once stricken by tsunami, a tropical island in Thailand shows its strength by constructing an enormous monument to the Buddhist faith.
Sitting serenely atop a quiet hilltop in the centre of Phuket – its presence a stark contrast to the unrelenting hustle and bustle of the hectic resort island surrounding it, is a towering and partially completed giant Buddha.
Measuring in at 150 feet (45 metres high) and 80 feet (25 metres) across its base, this cross-legged colossus, its body layered with Burmese marble tiles, can be seen gazing down benevolently from many vantage points across the island’s west coast. Known to locals as the Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha, it seems to glow with an almost ethereal brightness whenever the sun emerges from behind its dense tropical cloud cover.
This monumental statue is being built to attract both tourists and devout Buddhists alike, plus of course as a constant reminder to locals of the supreme divinity of the enlightened one.
Big Buddha will cost over $4 million to build
The idea was hatched ten years ago, after which a foundation was formed to co-ordinate its construction. Building of the big Buddha commenced in 2005, with the completion date dependant on fund-raising efforts. So far 80 million baht (US $2.4 million) has been generated for the project, with another 70 million baht (US $2.1 million) envisaged as being needed to see it through to completion.
Revenue is raised via donations from the local community and from curious tourists who make the trek up the winding roads of the Nakkerd Hills. It is estimated approximately one thousand people visit the site each day. Many donate money for building materials, earning themselves the write to scrawl their name or a message on a brick or marble tile to be used in the statue’s construction.
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