BANGKOK: Chanthaburi province on Thursday (Jan 4) announced that the annual worship festival of Buddha’s footprint located atop the famed Khao Khitchakut mountain will start on Feb 10 and last until April 9.
Located in Khao Khitchakut National Park, the mountain is 1,050m above sea level, making the Buddha’s footprint enshrined there the highest Buddhist relic in Thailand.
The annual festival has long attracted spiritual travellers from around the country to the eastern province to pay respect to the footprint, as well as to admire the view of the national park from above.
During the festival, four trips will be allowed up the mountain per day: before 6am, 6am to noon, noon to 6pm, and 6pm to midnight. For safety reasons, each trip is limited to a maximum of 6,000 pilgrims.
The trek to the mountain top is 5.6 kilometres plus another 1km to the shrine. Tour guide and shuttle vehicle services will be available throughout the three-month festival.
Those who wish to ascend the mountain must reserve a queue number in advance via the KCKQue application.
Travellers from Bangkok can reach Khao Khitchakut on highway no. 7 or 3249, or take a public bus/van to Chanthaburi Bus Terminal, and then catch a local minibus to the attraction. - The Nation/ANN
