Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan

TBH, Lopburi is usually a forgotten city that doesn’t gain much attention from tourists, even for locals. That’s because it’s not as highly promoted as other regions. For those of you who’re struggling to find a reason to consider a visit, however, fret not. We’ve got a place that will make you remember this city forever.

For first-time visitors, consider taking a day trip to Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan in Lopburi. The temple boasts a gigantic Buddha statue and 3,790 steps for you to trek up to get 360° views of the city. Keep reading to find out why we’re sure that once travel opens up, this underrated spot will gain a following eventually.

More places to explore in Thailand:

Trek up 3,790 steps to a giant golden Buddha

Image credit: @mistermhee80s

It’s hard to introduce Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan without talking about the gigantic Buddha statue overlooking the city of Lopburi. The sight of the majestic silhouette is visible from miles away, even while you’re on the street that heads towards the temple. Once you arrive, you will see a long stairway that you’ll have to take to get closer to the statue. Though the view is pretty nice, be patient as we haven’t reached the best part yet – it’s literally just the beginning.

Image credit: @8.s.h.e.n.g

Beyond the massive golden Buddha lies more than 3,000 steps that tons of adventurous visitors like us flock towards, in attempts to conquer the top of the hill. Needless to say, it’s very exhausting. So do conserve your stamina, and try to think instead of the view that awaits you at the pinnacle of your journey.

Image credit: @chennawit.yul

Once you made it up the steps, we bet you’re gonna be proud of yourself and will find it unbelievable that you persevered through the journey. As expected, the striking panoramic views from that vantage point will probably take your breath away – though you’d also be pretty breathless by this point. Take a break and chill as long as you want though. Trust us when we say that you’ll need to recharge, because there’s more to explore.

Pay your respects to Buddha’s footprint at the top

Image credit: @ammiez_jp

After you gain your energy back, you might wanna head to this little shrine that houses Buddha’s footprint to pay your respects. Expect to see heaps of bills and flower garlands, as this is how the locals make merit here. At the bottom of the base, you’ll also see a black sign with sentences in gold and may be wondering what they mean. In short, engraved upon the sign is a mantra that can be chanted to show reverence for the footprint.

Image credit: @jillianmukavetz

Just next to this area, is a well-known Chinese goddess, Guan Yin, standing not far from the Buddha’s footprint. Again, you’ll spot signs containing mantras and three black pots to contain believers’ incense.

Trek up again to the viewpoint to get a view of the whole city

Image credit: @i_am_rudee

If you made it to the Buddha’s footprint, you’d be at a height that’s high enough to see uninterrupted views of the city. However, there’s another mini staircase to lead you up to Pha Nang Fah – the final pitstop on our journey. Do look out for this iconic long and narrow staircase, flanked by 2 golden-green Thai snakes on the both sides of the banisters.

Image credit: @yao.yutya

Up on the hill, there’s a scenic viewpoint that allows you to see the wide rolling hills, along with green fields in the city. If you come up at a right time in the evening, you can expect to catch the beautiful sight of the sun going down over the horizon.

Add Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan to your bucket list

If you have never been to Lopburi before, let this temple be the first place to hit up, so you can fully take in the city’s beauty. As this is a pretty challenging temple to visit, due to the long trek upwards, do ensure that you’re committed to investing enough energy upon your visit. So if this sounds interesting to you, don’t forget to bookmark the temple for your next trip.

Driving here from Bangkok takes about 3 hours, more or less. Also, you can choose to take a bus to the city and continue with other rides to the temple. Feel free to check out our Bangkok bus guide here.

One more thing to note is that, from 1st-15th February every year, the temple will hold a 24-hour festival for nightly treks up. There will be a great number of people joining this festival annually as it’s pretty beautiful when you look down from the top at night due to bright lights along the way. So if you’re interested, make your plans in advance and don’t miss out on this festival if it can be slotted into your schedule.

Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan
Address: Huai Pong, Khok Samrong District, Lopburi 15120
Opening Hours: 6.30AM – 5AM, Monday – Saturday | 7AM – 11PM, Sunday
Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan’s Facebook | Google Maps

Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @8.s.h.e.n.g, @perth_cattleya, @yao.yutya

Enjoying The Smart Local Thailand? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories like this.

Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.