CONSTRUCTION is about to begin on a man-made island off Sapan Hin on the island’s south-east, which will be home to a five-metre statue of Buddha.  The architect-designed island will feature a walkway jetty, and a spectacular grand temple, shaped lotus flower. The three-sided statue of Buddha will sit on top of the temple.

The project has been designed by the ‘49 company limited’ and the work will be overseen by Phuket’s Office of Public Works and Town Planning.  The architects have completed schematic drawings and have presented CGI concept images and scaled down models of the 190 million baht project to the Governor and investors.

The temple will feature eight angular clasp supports resembling the leaves of a lotus flower.  The temple and statue will be bathed in purple, green, yellow and red lights, and will be open to the public both day and night. Deputy Governor Voropat Rattisima said renowned Phuket-based fortune teller, Alex Udomchoke, had also helped with the design.

Mr Udomchoke said Sapan Hin would be a suitable site for the temple and Budhha, because the setting sun would light up the face of the statue.  He also said the calming energy of Phuket Bay was ideal.  The statue, which will be made from Burmese white jade, or ‘lion stone’ which has been transported to Beijing, in China, where it is being carved by skilled craftsman.

The three-metre Bodhisattva will sit on a two-metre white jade base, giving it a total height of five metres. Three joss stick holding pots, also made from white jade, and six vases, are currently being made in China.  The statue of Buddha will have three faces which will look out over the bay area.  One face will be that of a smiling Buddha, one will be an intellectual face and the third will have a peaceful expression.

The project is designed to help promote the Buddhist culture to tourists visiting Phuket.  Uthis Chaileukit, chairman of the International Herb and Cosmetics Company, has donated 44 million baht to cover the cost of building the statue and shipping it to Phuket.  Mr Uthis came up with the idea more than a year ago as a way to commemorate His Majesty the King, Bhumibol Adulyadej’s, 80th birthday.

He wanted the statue to be in Phuket so the millions of tourists who came here each year, could see Thailand’s respect for the King.  The statue will stop in Sanum Luang in Bangkok where it will be used in merit making ceremonies on its way to Phuket. The statue is expected to arrive in Phuket sometime in the middle of next month.