Hello :)

On January 28, 2017, the author had the opportunity to visit the **sacred footprint of the Buddha at Khao Khitchakut, Chanthaburi Province.**

Therefore, I would like to share various details and small preparations for those who are interested in going this year.

Khao Khitchakut will be open from January 28 to March 28, 2017.

Currently, there are no product vendors on the mountain, unlike in previous years.

Therefore, it is recommended to bring your own supplies, such as water, snacks, or packed lunch (in case you get hungry).

Customers are required to return the items to the designated drop-off point.

There are two ways to get to the top: by foot from the bottom or by car to the Phra Siwali Lan.
For those traveling by car, the first thing you need to do is buy a ticket.
This year, there are three locations where you can catch a ride up the mountain:
1. Wat Katin
2. Wat Pluwang
3. Khao Khitchakut District Office (a new location open for the first time this year).
I have visited all three locations (Wat Pluwang in the first year, Wat Katin in the second year, and the District Office most recently).
This year, all three locations will take you directly to the Phra Siwali Lan.
Wat Pluwang will not have a second stop to change vehicles as in previous years.
The ticket price is 100 baht for the uphill journey, 100 baht for the downhill journey, and 10 baht for the Khao Khitchakut National Park entrance fee.

After purchasing your ticket, find a waiting area near the bus queue within the temple. The choice is yours. This year, the author initially chose to wait at Wat Kathing, as they had waited there the previous year and the wait time was not too long.

Contrary to expectations, today's experience was somewhat disappointing. As it was the first day of operation, the organization was not optimal, leading to delays. This was evident in the long queues for tickets and occasional disruptions to the rides. Consequently, our visit extended to approximately five hours.

At approximately 11:00 AM, an announcement was made stating that a new boarding point had been opened this year at the Khao Khitchakut District Office. Without hesitation, I hailed a motorcycle taxi to take me to the new location, which was about 1 kilometer from Wat Kathing. As it turned out, the district office boarding point was very uncrowded, allowing me to purchase a ticket and board immediately. This was likely due to the fact that it was not yet widely known. Consequently, I decided to change my boarding point without hesitation in order to save time waiting.

Tickets here are sold as a package, including round-trip cable car rides and park admission, for a total of 210 baht per person. This eliminates the need to purchase a separate downhill ticket at the top of the mountain.

Essential items to bring include drinking water and snacks to keep you energized during your climb.

The amount of water we bring depends on our expectations. We have a small bottle of water, a can of Sponsor, boiled eggs, bananas, and bread. Other items include wet tissues, a dust mask (for the car ride), and a hat.

It's better to take less, because we have to carry what we take ourselves...

The journey from the pick-up point to the Phra Siwali Lan took approximately 25 minutes, based on the time recorded by the poster during video filming.

The road is a steep, winding gravel path that follows the contours of the mountain. It's an exciting and thrilling ride.

Many people reported experiencing sore throats after exiting the vehicle (presumably due to excessive screaming). 555+

In this situation, the key technique is to maintain a firm grip on the seat. When the time comes, our instincts will guide us.

The video will be uploaded once the editing is complete.

Upon exiting the vehicle, we were greeted by a scene of utter whiteness. From our hair to our eyelashes, eyebrows, and beards, even our clothes were completely covered in a thick layer of white powder. We couldn't help but laugh hysterically at the sight of each other. It was as if we had been caught in a snowstorm, but instead of snow, it was a mysterious white substance. We wondered if it was bird droppings, as the camera lens was even obscured by the thick layer.

The car will drop us off at the Phra Siwali Lan, where flowers, incense, and candles are available for purchase at the usual price of 30 baht per set.

From this point, it is a 1.2-kilometer walk to the Buddha's footprint.

Along the way, there are rest stops where you can pay respects to sacred objects throughout the journey.

About halfway through the walk, you will reach Metta Square.

Typically, this area is bustling with vendors and their wares. However, this year, all the shops have been demolished, leaving behind an empty space.

Flowers, including marigolds, are no longer permitted beyond the Metta Platform. Officials will be stationed to enforce this restriction.

The three designated restroom areas remain unchanged: near the Phra Siwali statue, the Metta Plaza, and the Phra Bat Plaza.

No need to worry about the bathroom, it's still the same as before.

Along the 500-meter path from the Lan Metta to the Lan Phra Bat, we can engage in auspicious activities such as ringing the bell and offering prayers to the sacred deities.

** **

And here we are at our destination for today, the Phra Bat esplanade, where we will pay our respects to the Lord Buddha's footprint.
Monks or officials will be on hand to guide you on the proper etiquette for approaching the footprint.
The red cloth area remains closed to the general public.

May all pilgrims receive blessings, auspiciousness, and a safe journey home. Amen.

We sincerely hope that this post will be of some benefit to those who plan to visit the Lord Buddha's footprint this year.