Wat Phra Yai Pattaya

Wat Phra Yai stands on Pratumnak Hill above Pattaya, where a large golden seated Buddha is the centrepiece of an active Buddhist temple. Known as Phra Buddha Sukhothai Walai Chonlathan, or Luang Phor Yai, the statue was established in 1977 and has become one of Chon Buri's prominent religious landmarks. The hillside setting brings together local Buddhist devotion, traditional sculpture and views over the coastal city. Visitors approach the main Buddha terrace by a staircase framed by seven-headed naga serpent sculptures. Smaller standing Buddha images and statues representing the days of the week surround the main shrine, while rows of bells along a nearby walkway reflect a local merit-making tradition. From the upper grounds, visitors can admire the Pattaya skyline and coastline, observe the temple's calm devotional atmosphere and appreciate the contrast between this hilltop sanctuary and the busy city below.