Wat Phra Thong in Phuket is a well-known temple which has become a recognized visitor attraction. It inherits a noteworthy historical legacy and features an extraordinary mystique. Many legends and stories are associated with this magical Buddhist shrine in Thailand. Further it is thought to be amongst the most ancient temples on the island.
The principal attraction at the place of worship is the intriguing half-concealed Buddha statue it contains which has many legends relating to it. The story goes that the young son of a farmer tethered a buffalo to what looked like a post embedded in the ground. Both the farmer boy and the buffalo very soon fell terminally ill and died shortly. The boy’s father had a dream about the incident and after examining the object realized that it was actually the top of a large buried image of the Buddha.
Many of the villagers arrived to assist in digging up the image but only succeeded in exposing the upper section of the image; despite their best efforts they were unable to remove the statue from the earth. In subsequent times many attempts were made to unearth the statue, to no avail. It became known that anyone who attempted to move the statue would come to great misfortune or even death. It is said that hornets attacked many of the groups who tried to remove the statue.
Eventually a Buddhist monk on pilgrimage came to know of the magical image and decided to build a temple around it in its honour. Since then Wat Phra Thong has gained the status of being the spiritual focal point for the communities of the area.
Although this wat is hardly a very expansive temple, it is an appealing place to visit with its attractive buildings and colourful decorations. Visitors will be captivated by the tranquil ambience and serene beauty of this handsome Buddhist shrine. Since it is far removed from the busy tourist attractions it provides a haven of tranquillity for its visitors.
Visitors who would like to stay at a fine Phuket resort when on a visit here will be pleased with the Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand. This outstanding Phuket beach resort offers comfortable accommodations with a selection of amenities to help ensure a truly memorable holiday.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
