Wat Ban Koh Sirey Phuket

Overview

On a hill overlooking Phuket’s east coast, Wat Ban Koh Sirey stands above the small island of Koh Sirey in Ratsada subdistrict. The temple sits approximately 60 metres above sea level and serves the surrounding island community.

Wat Ban Koh Sirey is a Buddhist temple complex associated with the Mahanikaya monastic order. It functions primarily as a neighbourhood place of worship for residents of Koh Sirey, including Thai residents as well as workers from Mon and Burmese backgrounds.

From its hilltop position, the temple overlooks Sapam Bay and the narrow mangrove channel separating Koh Sirey from the Phuket mainland.

Temple Grounds

The temple complex occupies the summit of a hill reached by a narrow road and staircase. A circular road runs around the upper level of the hill, allowing vehicles to approach the temple buildings before descending again along the same route.

At the highest point stands the ordination hall (ubosot), which houses the temple’s reclining Buddha statue measuring approximately 18 to 19 metres in length. The building follows traditional Thai temple architecture, with a tiered roof and naga balustrades along the stairways.

A staircase of around 100 steps connects the lower temple area with the upper courtyard. The steps are bordered by naga sculptures and link the parking area and administrative buildings below with the shrine complex above.

Additional structures around the hilltop include small shrine rooms containing Buddha statues and a covered terrace that functions as a viewing platform overlooking the coastline.

Activity at the Temple

Wat Ban Koh Sirey functions primarily as a working temple for the surrounding community. Residents visit to make merit, light incense, and place offerings at the reclining Buddha and nearby shrine structures.

Visitors often walk clockwise around the shrine areas in accordance with traditional circumambulation practices. Worship activities usually involve brief visits focused on incense offerings, prayers, and small donations.

Some visitors also spend time on the elevated terraces and walkways that provide views across Sapam Bay and the surrounding coastline.

Daily Rhythm

The temple is generally open from early morning until evening, with typical access between approximately 06:30 and 20:00. Monks conduct daily religious routines including morning and evening chanting.

Visitor activity tends to increase during the late afternoon between roughly 16:30 and 18:30 when temperatures are cooler and the hilltop viewpoint becomes more comfortable.

Local activity also increases during Buddhist holidays such as Songkran, Visakha Bucha, and Loy Krathong, when community members gather for merit-making ceremonies.

Practical Setting

Parking near the summit is limited. Space is available for roughly ten to fifteen vehicles along the roadside and near the staircase leading to the upper temple buildings.

The climb to the main shrine requires approximately 100 steps, and the road leading up the hill is narrow and steep. Visitors arriving by vehicle often stop briefly near the upper level before descending again along the same route.

The hilltop courtyard is exposed to sunlight for much of the day, with shade mainly available inside the temple buildings or beneath roof overhangs.

Basic public toilets are located within the temple grounds. The upper shrine areas are not accessible to wheelchairs due to the steep staircase.

Role Within Phuket

Within Phuket’s network of Buddhist temples, Wat Ban Koh Sirey is a small to mid-sized temple serving primarily the residents of Koh Sirey and nearby parts of Ratsada.

The temple is best known locally for its reclining Buddha statue and its elevated viewpoint above Phuket’s east coast. These features attract occasional independent visitors, although the temple receives far fewer tourists than larger sites such as Wat Chalong.

Its religious iconography also reflects cultural links with Mon and Burmese communities working in the area. One notable element is a replica of Myanmar’s Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock pagoda, which distinguishes the temple from many others on the island.

Wat Ban Koh Sirey represents the primary Buddhist religious site on Koh Sirey and forms part of the wider network of temples distributed across Phuket’s towns and villages.

Location

Wat Ban Koh Sirey is located on Koh Sirey in Ratsada subdistrict on Phuket’s east coast. The temple stands on a hill above the island’s coastal road.

The temple is reached by crossing the bridge from the Phuket Town area to Koh Sirey via Srisuthat Road. A smaller road branches from the island’s main coastal route and climbs the hill toward the temple entrance.

The site lies approximately four to six kilometres east of Phuket Old Town, with typical travel times of around ten to fifteen minutes by car.

Nearby landmarks include Rassada Ferry Terminal on the mainland side of the channel and the Laem Tukkae village area on Koh Sirey.

Map

Wat Ban Koh Sirey is located on a hilltop on Koh Sirey in Ratsada, approximately five kilometres east of Phuket Town on Phuket’s east coast.