Wat Ladthiwanaram | Wat Tai

Wat Ladthiwanaram, Chalong, Phuket

Wat Ladthiwanaram or Wat Tai (as it is known by the locals) is a small temple close to the Chalong roundabout on the island of Phuket.

Wat Ladthiwanaram is not part of the usual tourist trail which makes it nice and prone to get a much more personal experience and to fully enjoy the tranquillity of the place. The relatively small temple on the left of the compound is home to the only black Buddha statue on the island: the actual cultural significance of this seems to be more tainted by myths surrounding the statue than actual facts but is nonetheless unique.

As you can see in our video, there is a small pond right next to the temple with the black Buddha where the locals, if they feel the need for adjusting their destiny by earning good karma, will either offer food to the fishes or buy living fish from the market and set them free in it. While huge renovations are taking place of the second temple, it does not seem to stop busloads of Chinese and Korean tourists to visit the shrine and the adjoining house containing also a very nice Buddha statue.

Whenever your visit to Wat Tai comes to an end, the Phuket Yacht Club, with its restaurant right on the beach front, is a good place to go and relax while watching the Chalong Bay and Pier activities.

How to get to Wat Ladthiwanarami? When coming from Chalong circle, driving on Chao Fa Road East, turn left after crossing a small bridge just past the first traffic lights you come across; you will then see the small pond on your right, just before you get into the temple ground and probably be welcomed by “friendly” barking dogs. From Chalong circle, Chao Fa Road East is the road leading to Phuket Town, and Chao Fa Road West is the one taking you all the way to the Central Festival mall.