About Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha)
Pratumnak Hill is only 98 meters high, but it separates Pattaya Bay from Jomtien beach, and Wat Phra Yai sits at the top. The temple dates from the 1940s, when the city still lived off fishing. The 18-meter seated golden Buddha was raised in 1977 and can now be seen from many points along the shore.
The climb is up a staircase flanked by two nagas, mythical seven-headed serpents that stand guard over the statue. On the platform, seven smaller statues, each in a different posture, represent the days of the week. Look for the one for the day you were born before heading down.
