Khao Khitchakut Footprint Worship Festival

เทศกาลนมัสการรอยพระพุทธบาทเขาคิชฌกูฏ

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Religious & SpiritualKhao Khitchakut
DatesDates TBACheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageAccess to the Phluang Buddha Footprint
LanguageThaiCurrency: THB
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Khao Khitchakut Footprint Worship Festival in Khao Khitchakut

Each year from mid-January through mid-March, Khao Khitchakut National Park in Chanthaburi opens its mountain pilgrimage route to the revered Phluang Buddha Footprint atop Khao Phra Bat. Pilgrims climb to the summit shrine and the nearby precariously balanced boulder, making this one of eastern Thailand's most popular annual religious treks.

Khao Khitchakut National Park in Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand, centers on a forested mountain, Khao Phra Bat, whose summit holds what is venerated as an impression of the Buddha's footprint, a natural rock formation interpreted by generations of Buddhist pilgrims as a sacred mark left on the landscape itself.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Access to the Phluang Buddha Footprint shrine is not year-round: the pilgrimage route up Khao Phra Bat within Khao Khitchakut National Park opens for only about two months each year, from mid-January to mid-March, tied to the lunar Makha Bucha period, meaning the mountain itself functions as a seasonal sacred site rather than a permanently accessible attraction

02

The mystery stays covered

The pilgrimage combines physical effort with devotion, since reaching the footprint shrine requires a genuine mountain climb, and pairs the religious destination with a striking natural feature nearby, a large boulder balanced precariously atop the peak, giving visitors both a spiritual and a geological point of interest at the summit

03

The city starts moving

A formal forest-closing and mountain-opening ceremony marks the start of each year's pilgrimage season

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The pilgrimage centers on worship of the Phluang Buddha Footprint

Water and renewal

Living ritual

believed to mark a sacred impression left by the Buddha

The sacred route

Living ritual

climbed specifically during the open season tied to the lunar Makha Bucha period

The local code

Living ritual

A formal ceremony marking the forest's closing and the mountain's opening each year reflects a structured

Tradition 5

Living ritual

seasonal approach to managing pilgrimage access to the sacred site

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Sturdy hiking shoes are essential for the mountain trail; lightweight, breathable clothing suits the climb despite cooler dry-season temperatures at altitude. Modest coverage is appropriate...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

THB

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map12.80 N, 102.12 EOpen in Google Maps

Khao Khitchakut, Chanthaburi, Thailand

Nearest airportUTP — U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Khao Khitchakut via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Khao Khitchakut, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearSturdy hiking shoes are essential for the mountain trail; lightweight, breathable clothing suits the climb despite cooler dry-season temperatures at altitude. Modest coverage is appropriate at the summit shrine itself, and layers help since conditions can shift between the trailhead and the peak.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Thailand and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Khao Khitchakut Footprint Worship Festival?

Khao Khitchakut Footprint Worship Festival is listed for Multiple months. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Khao Khitchakut Footprint Worship Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Khao Khitchakut, Thailand. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Khao Khitchakut, Chanthaburi, Thailand

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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