The town of Phuket is home to a vibrant array of culture, beaches and entertainment. It also boasts rich Thai Buddhist culture and is home to a temple with a solid gold stature buried in its grounds. Phuket features an array of Phuket beach resort accommodation that is no less gilded, all set within traditional Thai settings. One fine Phuket resort is the Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand, which offers stylish modern accommodation perfect for business or leisure travellers. A great temple to explore while in the city is the Wat Pra Tong, whose sole claim to fame is the golden Buddha statue called Luang Poh Phra Thong (translated as “golden stature”) buried in the grounds. Named in 1909 by King Rama IV, it is believed to be the oldest temple on the island. It features buildings of vibrant colour and its signature attraction, the golden Buddha statue, is believed to be untouchable, as whomever who has tried to dig it out of the ground falls under a curse. Legend has it that a farmer once tied a buffalo to what looked like a post, only to fall ill and pass on. His father dreamed of this and went to investigate, only to uncover the post as the golden statue. Although the villagers tried, they were unable to extricate the statue and a monk passing by came up with the idea of building a temple around the statue. The temple has become a significant spiritual site for local communities since then. The temple also features an interesting museum that was founded by the presiding abbot. The museum showcases historical objects donated by the locals, such as a Chinese dowry basket, Chinese feet-reducing shoes, cannons, food carriers and Javanese daggers. It is a riveting tribute to Phuket’s local beliefs and customs.