View of Pattaya Bay from the top
The radio station on the West Hill
Admiral Krom
Temple on the West Hill containing Buddha's footprint

Buddha's Footprint
Kwan Yin Boddhi Sattava
Shrine
Shrine to Confuscius

Dr. Sun's Lake
The Big Buddha
Lucky Bells around the Big Buddha
Close up to the Big Buddha

Scary!
Snakes alive!
Walking track in the exercise park
Exercise equipment in the park

Peaceful track
Ornamental Gardens

Big Buddha Hill is between Pattaya and Jomtien. If you go out of Pattaya on the Thappraya Road, there are two ways to get to it.
The first way is to carry on (if anything bear slightly to the right), when the road turns left towards the flyover as it leaves the town (or if you get to the flyover, turn right there under it). At the next junction as you pass under the flyover, carry straight on (turn left if you’re following the flyover) and you’ll end up going up the hill. Complicated to explain in writing – very simple on the map where it’s shown as the red route.
Alternatively you can access it from the top of Thappraya, at the new traffic lights. Turn right and head up the hill (blue route on map).
There is another way which is to go to Bali Hai pier along walking street and keep going. When you get to the lighthouse you’ll end up going up the hill (green route on map). Whichever way you’ll get there. Check out the Google map below for the full area and the three routes up.


View Big Buddha Hill in a larger map

There are 4 main areas here and we’ll touch on all 4. These are:

  • The radio station
  • The lower temples
  • The Big Buddha
  • The fitness park.

OK starting with the radio station. This is on the Western hill, the one nearest the sea. If you’ve come up from the lighthouse it’s the one you hit first. At the top of this hill is a statue and memorial to Admiral Prince Klomluang Chumphon Khet Udomsakdi. The radio station broadcasts to the Royal Thai Navy and you can look in there if you ask nicely. There’s a plaque up the top detailing the life of the Prince. He was born in 1880 and became known as the “father of the Royal Thai Navy”. If you read the plaque it will tell you all about him, but he was a fascinating man. The park at the top also gives you the best view from the mountain of Pattaya Bay. This in itself is worth seeing. Finally in this part there’s a Wat with a replica of Buddha’s footprint in it.

Now on to the main hill, which is a little to the East, away from the sea. As you go up to the Big Buddha, there’s a temple area on the left. Don’t miss this as there are some fascinating places in here. Some of the most noteworthy are an ornate set of images to celebrate the Queen of Heaven’s birthday, boards and a temple to Confucius, and a peace garden to Dr Sun, a studier of Confucius. You can spend a lot of time here as it tends to be less visited than the statue on the top, and there’s a certain amount of peace.

Going up to the top, there’s the Big Buddha. And it is big! Take time to walk round the ring of bells at the base and circumnavigate the statue. Then climb the steps (they’re not too steep) and look at the images at the top. There’s a couple of temples you can stop and pray in, or just spend some quiet time here. The views aren’t too good, but then that’s not why we came to this part of the hill.

Finally have a walk around the fitness park. This spreads all around the statue and covers the hill’s flanks. There are many interesting walkways, paths, and pieces of exercise equipment to lose those doughnut calories on!

Whichever way you look at it this is a fascinating area you can spend a good few hours exploring. Take a bike or taxi if you feel weary, but for the full experience take the climb on foot. If the day’s not too hot it’s a nice walk in pleasant scenery. There’s lots to do and see and I’ve only touched on it here.

Enjoy!