Buddha is Footprint on The Mountain

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 20.00

 

The Replica Buddha Footprint on the hill of Wat Maduea Wan, also known as Wat Mathuraworaram or Wat Maduea Wan, is a sacred Buddhist site in Moo 3, Ko Pha-ngan Subdistrict, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani Province. The temple is an old community temple with a hilltop mandapa that enshrines a replica Buddha footprint. A naga-lined staircase leads from the lower temple area up to the footprint pavilion. The temple is respected by local people and has an annual Buddha footprint worship tradition.

 

The Replica Buddha Footprint on the hill of Wat Maduea Wan is one of the most meaningful Buddhist sites on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani. The temple is officially known as Wat Mathuraworaram and is widely known by its older local name, Wat Maduea Wan. It is located in Moo 3, Ko Pha-ngan Subdistrict, Ko Pha-ngan District, in the old community of Ban Maduea Wan. Unlike the island’s beach-focused tourist areas, this temple presents a quieter and more traditional side of Koh Phangan, shaped by Buddhism, local history, hill landscapes, and community faith.

 

The main sacred feature of the site is the replica Buddha footprint enshrined in a mandapa on the hilltop. Visitors begin at the lower temple area and then walk up a staircase leading to the footprint pavilion. The stairway is one of the temple’s most recognizable features, with vivid naga figures flanking both sides. These serpent guardians create a strong ceremonial entrance and visually mark the transition from the ordinary lower ground to the sacred hilltop area.

 

Wat Maduea Wan is an old local temple under the Mahanikaya Buddhist order. Historical temple records state that the temple was established in 1606 and was originally called Wat Maduea Wan. It received its royal boundary, or Wisungkham Sima, in 1696. The temple land covers 28 rai, 1 ngan, and 86 square wah, with an additional monastic land plot of 20 rai, 2 ngan, and 20 square wah. These details show that Wat Maduea Wan is not merely a small roadside attraction; it is a long-established community temple with deep roots in Koh Phangan’s local religious landscape.

 

The temple complex includes several monastic and religious structures, such as an ordination hall, sermon hall, monks’ residences, multipurpose hall, crematorium, kitchen, abbot’s residence, guest house, and the mandapa of the replica Buddha footprint. Important sacred objects include the principal Buddha image in the ordination hall, a Maravijaya Buddha image measuring 39 inches across the lap and 62 inches high, built in 1949; the principal Buddha image in the sermon hall, measuring 37 inches across the lap and 55 inches high, built in 1995; a stone Buddha image measuring 37 inches across the lap and 47 inches high; and the replica Buddha footprint itself, measuring 21 inches wide and 50.5 inches long.

 

The Buddha footprint is significant in Buddhist tradition because it symbolizes the presence, virtues, and path of the Buddha. At Wat Maduea Wan, the placement of the footprint on the hill makes the act of worship feel more deliberate. Visitors do not simply walk into a flat shrine; they climb step by step from the lower temple grounds to the hilltop pavilion. This physical ascent gives the visit a pilgrimage-like quality and makes the final act of paying respect more contemplative.

 

The setting also gives the temple a distinct character. It is located near Thong Sala, the main arrival and commercial center of Koh Phangan, yet the temple atmosphere is calm and surrounded by greenery. The naga staircase, the hilltop pavilion, the lower temple grounds, and the shaded areas around the temple combine to create a place that feels both accessible and set apart from the busier parts of the island. This is one reason why Wat Maduea Wan is worth visiting for travelers interested in Buddhist culture rather than only beaches and nightlife.

 

The annual worship tradition of the Buddha footprint remains an important part of the temple’s identity. Local tourism sources describe the Buddha footprint as having an annual worship event. In 2026, Wat Maduea Wan also hosted the annual Bun Bua Pho Than event, an important yearly event of Ko Pha-ngan District involving local agencies, schools, and community participants. Such events confirm that the temple continues to function as a living religious and community space, not just as a historical monument.

 

For cultural travelers, the temple’s annual events are a useful way to understand the religious life of Koh Phangan. The island is internationally known for beaches and entertainment, but Wat Maduea Wan shows a deeper layer of local identity. During temple events, the site becomes a place for merit-making, worship, local performance, community gathering, and the preservation of Buddhist tradition. On ordinary days, visitors can still experience the temple’s quiet atmosphere and pay respect to the footprint at their own pace.

 

The old name Wat Maduea Wan is closely tied to Ban Maduea Wan, the surrounding local community. This makes the temple important not only as a place of worship but also as a marker of local settlement and memory. A temple founded in 1606 and still active today provides a strong historical anchor on an island that has changed rapidly through tourism development. The temple reminds visitors that Koh Phangan has long been a place of Buddhist communities, hill temples, local ceremonies, and everyday village life.

 

A visit to Wat Maduea Wan is suitable for travelers who want a calm, meaningful stop near the center of the island. From Thong Sala, the temple is about 3 km away, so it can be reached by songthaew, local taxi, rental car, or rental motorcycle. The route is short enough to combine with other nearby places, such as Phaeng Waterfall, Dom Sila Viewpoint, Wat Phu Khao Noi, Thong Sala, and the HTMS Phangan Museum area.

 

Getting There is straightforward. From Thong Sala, visitors can take local transport or ride a scooter toward Ban Maduea Wan. Navigation apps recognize the temple under the names Wat Mathuraworaram, Wat Maduea Wan, or Wat Maduea Wan Buddha Footprint. Once at the temple, park in the suitable lower area and continue on foot up the naga staircase to the hilltop mandapa. The climb is not extreme, but it is still best to wear steady shoes and avoid slippery conditions after rain.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon. These periods are cooler and more comfortable for climbing the stairs. The naga staircase is also one of the best photo spots at the temple, especially when the light falls across the colorful serpent figures and the surrounding greenery. Visitors should bring a little water on hot days and be prepared for mosquitoes during the rainy season or in shaded areas.

 

As this is an active Buddhist temple, visitors should dress and behave respectfully. Shoulders and knees should be covered, shoes should be removed before entering the footprint pavilion, and noise should be kept low. Do not climb onto sacred structures, touch the Buddha footprint unnecessarily, or disturb monks and local worshippers. Photography is acceptable in general temple areas, but it should be done with consideration, especially near people who are praying.

 

A practical route is to begin in Thong Sala, visit Wat Maduea Wan in the morning, climb to the Buddha footprint pavilion, and then continue to Phaeng Waterfall and Dom Sila Viewpoint. Another option is to combine the temple with Wat Phu Khao Noi and the Thong Sala waterfront. This kind of route shows a different face of Koh Phangan: temples, hills, waterfalls, viewpoints, and local communities rather than only beaches.

 

The most important areas to see are the lower temple ground, the naga staircase, the hilltop Buddha footprint pavilion, and the shaded surrounding grounds. The lower area shows the temple’s role as a community monastery. The stairway creates the symbolic approach to the sacred place. The hilltop mandapa is the core worship area, where the Buddha footprint is enshrined. Seen together, these spaces create a complete experience of movement from the everyday world to a calm sacred place.

 

Wat Maduea Wan is also useful for travelers who want to understand Koh Phangan beyond its modern reputation. The temple’s long history, annual worship tradition, local name, hilltop footprint pavilion, and community setting reveal the older cultural layers of the island. It is not a large tourist complex, and that is part of its value. The experience is simple, quiet, and connected to real local Buddhist life.

 

Overall, the Replica Buddha Footprint on the hill of Wat Maduea Wan is a worthwhile stop for visitors interested in faith, history, and local culture. Its appeal lies in the old temple setting, the sacred hilltop footprint, the colorful naga staircase, and the peaceful atmosphere near the center of Koh Phangan. For travelers who want to see a more grounded and spiritual side of the island, Wat Maduea Wan is one of the most meaningful cultural places to include in an itinerary.

 

 

A: It is located at Wat Mathuraworaram, also known as Wat Maduea Wan, in Moo 3, Ko Pha-ngan Subdistrict, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani Province, about 3 km from Thong Sala.

 

A: The temple is open daily from 08.00 to 20.00.

 

A: No. There is no admission fee to visit the temple, climb to the Buddha footprint mandapa, or pay respect.

 

A: It is an old community temple on Koh Phangan, established in 1606, with a hilltop mandapa enshrining a replica Buddha footprint respected by local people.

 

A: The climb is manageable because a staircase leads from the lower temple area to the mandapa, but visitors should wear steady shoes and take care during or after rain.

 

A: Yes. The temple has an annual Buddha footprint worship tradition and community temple events that remain important to local people on Koh Phangan.

 

A: Morning and late afternoon are the best times because the weather is cooler, the light is pleasant, and the climb up the staircase is more comfortable.

 

A: Nearby places include Phaeng Waterfall, Dom Sila Viewpoint, Thong Sala, Wat Phu Khao Noi, HTMS Phangan Museum, and Wok Tum Beach.