Wat Khao Phra Phutthabat Bang Sai

Wat Khao Phra Phutthabat Bang Sai sits on a hill in Bang Sai, on the edge of Chonburi town near Bang Saen, built around a Buddha footprint enshrined on the northeast face of the slope. Around 200 steps climb from the base to the mondop that houses it — a square shrine building topped with a cupola, added when the site was rebuilt during the reign of King Rama V. Entry is free, and the temple opens daily from 08:00 to 18:00.

The site has an older history than the current buildings suggest. A monastery stood here during the Ayutthaya period and fell into ruin; Phraya Phichit Chaloket, administrator of Chonburi Municipality at the time, had it reconstructed under Rama V. The ordination hall (ubosot) predates that rebuild — it dates to the reign of King Rama III and is the most architecturally significant structure on site, with the kind of ornate roofline and decorative detail typical of early Rattanakosin temple building. In 1946 the temple was elevated to royal monastery status, third class, and it belongs to the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order rather than the more common Mahanikaya sect most neighbourhood temples follow.

Insider Tip: The temple runs a Thai-style Buddhist school on the grounds, and merit-making activities happen there daily around 11 AM — worth timing a visit around if you want to see more than an empty shrine.

Climbing the steps rewards you with a view over Mueang Chonburi and out toward the coast — not a dramatic panorama, but a genuine one, and one of the few elevated points in this part of town. Golden Buddha images sit at intervals along the ascent, and the footprint shrine itself draws a steady trickle of local worshippers lighting incense rather than tour groups. Bells and quiet chanting carry on the breeze most mornings.

Watch out: There’s little shade on the open stretches of the staircase. Climb before mid-morning if the Chonburi heat bothers you — by early afternoon the steps get uncomfortable fast.

Dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees, as at any Thai temple — and bring water for the climb. The site works best as a stop on a wider loop through Khao Sam Muk, the other hilltop viewpoint nearby, or paired with Wat Thammanimit if you’re touring Bang Saen’s temples in one trip. It’s a quieter, more local alternative to the province’s more heavily visited sites — no vendors crowding the entrance, just a working monastery going about its routine.