I witnessed the start of construction a few years ago and told you back then that a large Buddha was being erected on the small hill in front of Wat Phra That Mae Yen. Now it's finished, and every guidebook in Pai recommends it. While it's not the most beautiful large Buddha in Thailand—my favorite remains the Buddha at Wat Muang—the statue and the view from the steps are definitely worth seeing. I particularly recommend the small temple, Wat Phra That Mae Yen, which I greatly appreciate despite its charm, even though it's often overlooked by visitors who only want to see the large Buddha. This page is a copy of the page about Wat Phra That Mae Yen, but I felt it was important to highlight this temple as well, even though both monuments are located in the same place.

There is no public transport to the temple, but it can be reached quickly by bicycle as it is only 2 kilometers from the city. Alternatively, you can hire a motorbike taxi; a round trip costs about 120 baht. Since the Big Buddha is already completed, the temple is also frequently included in day trips offered by tour operators.

The Pai Big Buddha is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Pai Big Buddha? There is no public transport to the temple, but it's easily accessible by bicycle, as it's only 2 kilometers from the town. Alternatively, you can hire a motorbike taxi; a round trip costs around 120 baht. Since the Big Buddha is now complete, the temple is also included in many day trips offered by tour operators.