Wat Phra Buddhabat

 
The splendid Wat Phra Buddhabat (from "Buddhapada", Sanskrit for the symbolic presence of Buddha) is a jewel of Thai architecture and one of the holiest places in the country. The temple gets its name from a footprint belonging to Buddha that is worshipped here.

History and legend have become confused over the years. Around 1615 the Ayutthaya King Songtham (1610-28) sent Thai monks to Ceylon to pay homage to a footprint of Buddha. Singhalese monks, however, pointed out - according to Pali texts - that one of the five "genuine" footprints of Buddha to be found in the world was on Siamese territory. Shortly afterwards this place was discovered by a hunter: an injured stag showed him the way to a water-filled foot-shaped depression in the ground. On drinking the water he was cured of a bad skin disease from which he had suffered for years. This miracle was reported to the king who had a temple built here.

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