PHUKET, THAILAND – The viewpoint at the Big Buddha was officially reopened to visitors on 3 March, with full responsibility now lying with the temple Wat Kittisangharam.
New start on a religious holiday
The reopening coincided with the Buddhist holiday Makha Bucha, when the temple explicitly invited worshippers to ceremonies at the hilltop landmark. The move came a little over six months after a deadly rockfall on 23 August 2024 that killed 13 people and disrupted access to the site.
The abbot of Wat Kata, Phra Khru Wisutthikittiyaphon, confirmed that the site was now officially registered as “Wat Kittisangharam (Big Buddha)” and would open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. He indicated that religious activities would resume in line with the temple’s schedule.
New responsibility and clear separation
Going forward, five monks from Wat Kata were to be permanently stationed at the Big Buddha. A temple committee would handle administration and religious activities according to the existing practices of Wat Kata.
Temple representatives stressed that operations were now fully separated from the former foundation that had previously overseen the site. They said the new structure was intended to ensure transparency and full legal compliance with Thai regulations.
Permission limited to defined area
According to those in charge, the reopening applied only to a designated area of 15 rai that had been cleared by the forest authority. Access and activities outside this defined zone remained restricted.
They stated that the permit was tied to 25 conditions. These were meant to provide the framework under which religious activities could again take place at the hilltop location.
Criticism from politics and local community
Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee welcomed the new responsibility but voiced ongoing concerns.
“Personally, I have concerns, particularly regarding the structure, the unresolved legal cases and the safety measures, especially with regard to landslides.”
said Chalermpong Saengdee, Phuket MP.
He also questioned whether all required approvals, including those from the forest authorities and the Phuket Provincial Office of Buddhism, had been correctly and fully granted.
“The case is currently before the court, and I will closely monitor and support the community until it is concluded.”
said Chalermpong Saengdee, Phuket MP.
Ongoing doubts over safety and timing
The Big Buddha reopened under new management and with clear conditions after the fatal landslide that left 13 dead. However, questions about the stability of the hillside and pending court cases continued to overshadow the renewed access.
The situation left visitors and residents to weigh personal safety against the significance of reopening one of Phuket’s major religious and tourist sites. Debates persisted over whether the restart sent an important signal for Phuket or came too early while expert assessments and legal proceedings were still unresolved.