Big Buddha Temple – Wat Prah Yai
Wat Phra Yai or Big Buddha temple is Koh Samui‘s most famous landmark. This temple has a 12meter (40foot) high buddha statue located on the north eastern beach of Bang Rak (Big Buddha Beach).
The Buddha statue was built in 1972. Big Buddha Temple was built on a small island connected to Koh Samui by a causeway. The Statue is placed on a elevated platform which can be reached by a stairway flanked with Nagas (mythological serpents).
The platform provides a great view to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan as well as Bang Rak beach.