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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Chanthaburi: Wat Khao Prabat (Khao Khitchakut National Park)

    Wat Khao Prabat is open to the public two months of each year, for 2022 February 2nd to April 2nd.

    Buddha's footprint and the Stairway to Heaven



    Khao Phra Bat summit is 1085m above sea level. There is a steep, winding 14km trail for the dedicated pilgrim, but most take a ride in one of the fleet of 4WD pickups. It's steep. Change pickup about half way up, then when ride #2 ends its a further 4.5km on foot to the end of the trail.

    My photos aren't recent - it was closed 2020 and 2021, for this year there are limits on numbers during each day, maximum 16,000 a day, 4,000 people per six-hour interval:
    - 00.00 a.m. – 06.00 a.m.
    - 06.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
    - 12.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
    - 18.00 – 24.00 hrs.

    The numbers are staggering. The year we went up they were quoting having passed 500k for the first time in a two-month season; how accurate I don't know but it's certainly very busy; there were around 80 pickups operating non-stop day and night.

    A lot of people go up late at night to be at the summit for sunrise. We went up around 7am and there were crowds waiting for a pickup to go down again.

    Getting there - on Sukhumvit #3 head inland at the major intersection at Noen Sung 8km north of the city. on highway #3322 then #3249. It's well signposted from Sukhumvit onwards.

    We went by motorbike and there was secure parking (for a fee) at Phluang temple then buy tickets for the pickups and wait your turn. The 4WD drive was as lunatic as you'd expect with a racing driver at the wheel treating it like a competitive hillclimb event.


    At the change-4WD area there's various statues, the gold leaf tree and a vision of hell - as if the ride want bad enough.
    Last edited by prawnograph; 24-02-2022 at 12:54 AM.

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Wat Khao Prabat
    Mainly photos from here onwards towards the summit

    Really not sure what's going on here






    Last edited by prawnograph; 23-02-2022 at 04:12 PM.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Ringing the bells on the trail to Wat Khao Prabat


    Sun umbrella recommended
    Last edited by prawnograph; 23-02-2022 at 04:12 PM.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Shrines on the trail to Wat Khao Prabat




    Last edited by prawnograph; 23-02-2022 at 04:12 PM.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Wat Khao Prabat








  6. #6
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    Wat Khao Prabat







  7. #7
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Wat Khao Prabat - approaching the summit

    we saw people being carried here on stretchers, sick elderly brought by family members






  8. #8
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Wat Khao Prabat - at the top




  9. #9
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    Wat Khao Prabat - marigold time


  10. #10
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Wat Khao Prabat - this is the end




  11. #11
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Wat Khao Prabat - 2022
    Some recent pics from Thai media

    200 baht for the 4WD ride




    I didn't need carrying

  12. #12
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    Wat Khao Prabat - 2022

    at the top




    2020


    Last edited by prawnograph; 02-03-2022 at 05:28 PM.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    2023 Wat Khao Prabat (Khao Khitchakut National Park, Chanthaburi)

    Open to visit from 22 January to 22 March 2023

    Arrive and take your chances with queues, or pre-book using the KCKQue app.





    Transport to the top can cope with up to 24,500 vistors per day. that's more than enough to put us off.

    Charter buses available from the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) at 8.00pm, fare 499 Baht/seat (excluding Khao Khitchakut entry/transport fees); allowing 4-5hrs hours for the bus, temple worship on arrival, another at the changeover point for the 4WD transport, before getting to the top, presume this is aimed at being at the summit for dawn.

    Last edited by prawnograph; 17-01-2023 at 11:37 AM.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    2023 Wat Khao Prabat (Khao Khitchakut National Park, Chanthaburi)

    A pre-opening event for media in 2023


    Link to: Thai National Parks - Khao Khitchakut National Park

    The shuttle transportation is an equally interesting experience.
    While the traffic runs from the left side in Thailand, the rules are completely different on the road up to Khao Phra Bat mountain.
    Along the 5 km long road up to the top, the traffic shifts to both left or right before the sharp bends so that the vehicles driving up can easily turn the bends.
    The left/right shift happens along the longer and straight stretches, signposted well.
    Both driving up and down happens at relatively high speed, so, it is very “exciting” and at the same time a bit scary to see how cars suddenly change left/right while meeting cars driving in the opposite direction.
    Last edited by prawnograph; 17-01-2023 at 11:57 AM.

  15. #15
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    Wat Khao Prabat - 2024



    Tradition of worshiping the Buddha’s footprint at Khao Khitchakut (Phra Bat Phluang) Chanthaburi, year 2024, starting on February 10, 2024 – April 9, 2024 and there will be a worship ceremony on February 8, 2024.


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