Shades of the sky : Sunrise and Sunset in Phuket

Hello all,
It was not like our last few trips. Kids were oversaturated with mountains as our last few trips were in the mighty Himalayas. So my usual cloning of planning and packing wouldn’t be possible. No more warm clothes and track pants! No snow-laden mountains were calling our names. There were no rippling rivers passing through valleys. I was in a dilemma. The kids were super relieved. And Sheel was excited.
This Diwali, we went to this amazing country, Thailand. It has beauty in all terms. Mesmerizing seas, amazing rain forests, chaotic city life, and serene small-town life. You decide what your priority is.
But still, it didn’t prevent us from watching two of the most stunning events on this planet, which, though they occur daily, we always underestimate. Yes, I am talking about the spectacular sunrises and mesmerizing sunsets of Phuket.
As Cheryl Strayed said, “There’s always a sunrise and always a sunset, and it’s up to you to choose to be there for it.” And when we were on this amazing island, how could we not choose to see both of these? We went for sunrise once and sunset three times. Let me show you some beautiful places and pictures!
Sunrise at Big Buddha:
If you ask any traveller or tourist about the most peculiar spot in Phuket, you will invariably get this answer. It is your constant companion in Phuket and visible in most of the places. And we watched it at sunrise, and it was spectacular!
Fortunately, we had only one companion, a Russian who was so overwhelmed with Phuket that he happened to enrol himself in the Phuket scholarship programme. That way he could stay in Phuket. He was sitting on the steps with his mobile on the tripod for time-lapse. It was his constant 10th morning, so you can imagine the grandeur of the scenery!
The changing colours of the sky were like changing emotions. At first, you will be excited! Wow! You came this early to watch this fabulous view. And then you will be amazed, oh! What a stunning view. And then you will sit on those steps, take a deep breath, and silently and patiently take everything inside. You will feel gratitude for everything! every small event and every person.
The big Buddha is a magnificent structure, sitting at the top of the Nakkerd Hills. The statue is 45 meters tall, the third-tallest statue in Thailand. The location offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Phuket, mainly Kata and Karong beaches.
The statue is made up of beautiful small white marble and weighs approximately 130 tons. The construction started in 2002, and now it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Phuket.
The best time to visit:
The best times are during sunrise or sunset, as the view and sky are amazing. The afternoon will be too hot and crowded, too.
Timings:
6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
We reached there at 5:55. But the caretaker was kind. Once he saw that we were waiting at the gate, without asking anything, he opened the doors for us to park our car.
Way to Big Buddha:
The road is steep and curvy. We went in our rental car.
There is a hiking trail from Karon Beach and also the Kata-Karon Hiking Trail and it takes about 2–3 hours.
Once you are on the premises, you have to climb approximately 96 steps on the Naga stairs to reach the statue. But before that, just spare a few minutes and enjoy the panoramic view from the base. There are a few benches and gazebos where you can admire the view in front of you.
One peculiar point is that the stairs are only to be climbed; you are not allowed to walk them down. We didn’t know that, and there was no one to guide us. I just came to know about this afterwards. The complex is wheel chair accessible.
The temple is just beneath the statue. There are large boards of quotes on Buddhism by famous people.
At the base of the colossal white Buddha, there are many smaller golden statues in different postures associated with each day of the week. You can also purchase the golden leaf ornaments, write your prayers and wishes on them, and tie them to the tree and bell after writing. They say that this will make your prayers come true.
Dress Code:
There is no strict dress code at the Big Buddha, but you should dress modestly. Your shoulders and knees should be covered. I had my shawl with me as I was wearing sleeveless.
They also provide a free sarong if you are not dressed properly.
Facilities at Big Buddha:
There are shops at the entrance next to the parking lot where you can get water, snacks, or cold drinks, along with some souvenirs. All were closed during our visit. The restrooms are there in the parking lot area. T
Sunset we watched in Phuket:
At Phromthep Cape:
Thanks again to that stranger Russian we met at sunrise who was kind enough to suggest a sunset place to sheel during his casual talk. And it was totally worthy it!.
We went there at the perfect time and even got our little spot just below the walkway, with one of the most unobstructed views of a simply stunningly stupefying sunset. The reflection of the rays coating everything around us gives immense satisfaction and joy. It is a state of pure bliss!
It is the viewpoint in the southernmost part of Phuket, located 200 meters above sea level and giving you a panoramic view of the Andaman Ocean.
There is a small local temple of God Brahma with a thousand elephants, made up of stone and wood. If you have an adventurous soul, you can hike down to the end of the Cape Peninsula. What makes the sunset more picturesque are the beautiful palm trees along the walkway and the sun setting between them.
There are a few shops along the parking lot where you can get a few snacks and typical beach items.
Karon Viewpoint:
We went to this point on our first evening in Phuket. We thought of it as a sunset point, and our driver also said the same thing, so we went there quite early before sunset. The viewpoint is amazing, with an amazing view of three beaches together: Kata, Kata Noi, and Karon beaches. This is one of the best viewing points in Phuket.
However, you won’t be able to see the sunset from the viewpoint as the view gets obstructed by trees on the hill. We stayed there for a while, and at the time of sunset, we went to the nearby Kata Beach instead.
On the way, we stopped at a cliff-like point and watched one of the most beautiful sunset.
Kata beach:
We reached there just after sunset. But the colours in the sky were magnificent. The twilight was enveloping our hearts in a comfy blanket. If the time of the dusk was so beautiful, the time of the sunset must be extraordinarily magical.
On a Boat in Phang Nga Bay:
Our other sunset was on a sunset cruise to James Bond Island. And we engorged in every second of it. We went there via Phuket Sail Tours. They provide an amazing private cruise with just 20 people on board. I will share in detail about this in another blog.
The pink, peach, yellow and purple of the sky at sunset and dusk were perfect! You want to sit silently and soak in this magic.
Other few points to watch the sunrise in Phuket:
– Naithon Beach: If you want to experience a stunning sunrise from a beach, then you should go to this beach. It is also one of the quietest beaches, with a quite large span of around 1 km.
– Khao Rang Hill: Again, you can come here at both sunrise and sunset, and both are equally jaw-dropping!
-Monkey Hill
Other best Phuket sunset spots:
– Sunset beaches: sunset on the beach is the miracle, and you can see it from famous beaches like Kat, Kat Noi, Karon and Nui Harn.
– Sunset at the Phuket Windmill: it is an iconic spot to watch the Phuket sunset and can be crowded.
– Radar Hill Viewpoint: It is the highest viewpoint in Phuket and provides a stunning sunset view over Patong.
– On a boat in the Phi Phi Islands
Places that offer equally beautiful sunrises and sunsets:
– Big Buddha
– Promethep cape
– Cape Panwa: located at the southernmost tip of Phuket and is one of the most secluded areas of the island. There is a well-known Kao Khad viewpoint you can visit.
– Samet Nangshe Viewpoint: It used to be a secret viewpoint on the east side with a striking sunrise and an equally stunning sunset, with a panoramic view of the waters of Phang Nga Bay and islands with the sun between limestone peaks. We are going to visit Phuket on our next visit (never say never!).
Few Tips for Sunrise on Phuket Island
1. Check sunrise timings and weather conditions beforehand.
2. Arrive early, as you might feel that the spot is less known or ‘hidden’, but that’s not always the case. You might want to grab your spot early!
3. If you are going on a peak, then it might be windy, so pack accordingly.
Tips for Sunset on Phuket Island
1. The first and foremost tip is to try to include at least two sunsets in your itinerary. Because they are different on each day and at each and every place. They are insanely beautiful in Phuket.
2. Check the weather forecast. But don’t let the cloudy day dishearten you because an excellent sunset needs clouds, and the colours of the sky among fluffy or grey clouds cause a dramatic show in front of you. So don’t miss!
3. We see one of the most beautiful sunsets at Kata Beach. The colours were perfect. The hint of red and orange and blue and black was just magnificent! So stay after sunset!
So whenever you visit Phuket, try to include these places in your itinerary; you will surely remember us!
“May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace.” – Umair Siddiqui.
Thank you.
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Amazing 🤩🤩 very near to mother nature….blissful…lucky to admire both… sunrise n sunset
sache…
Fairytale description !
“It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.” – Bern Williams.
Truly inspiring
Thank u so much dear…
Oh my goodness !
what a perfect description my Dear
where were your posts !
missing them since long
I am your kids friend mom and am following you since long . was suppose to DM you please please start writting and inspiring
Wow! Thanks a ton dear…I also missed writing here.. thank u for indulging me like this.
Saras ane sundar
Thank you…
Happy new year ben
Happy new year baka..
A night can never defeat the sunrise
Have u been to Killimanjaro
they say its beauty !
You guys seem to nail it !
Making phuket and thailand famous for such beauty !
hi Kajal i am tilak based since long in Zimbabwe and kirit uncle highlighted this blog of yours !
regards to sheel bhai and satish uncle
Thank you so much…really appreciated this. No Kilimanjaro is a dream which we want to do one day! Sheel and pappa both are fine. Thanks once again.
For many people, the sunrise is an almost religious experience.
Others believe it is the best time of the day for meditation as u mentioned someone was there every day !
For me its refreshing state of day that makes me ready to live a new day
Lovely Post Kajal
For me sunrise is a dream and sunset is hope….Thank you so much for thoughtful words…
In the New Year, we never forget to thank to past years because they enabled us to reach today!
Without the stairs of the past, you cannot arrive at the future!
Similarly the blog post reminds us of this simple thing again and again !
Because u saw sunrise u happened to thank sunset and As u witnessed sunset u were greatfull to the sunrise in morning
keep posting doc !
its inspiring so many
Thank you so much for such inspirational words… this means a lot.
Sunrise and sunset !
very lucky u had the privillege to observe both
Yes we are indeed! And that too on our Gujarati new year day…