In the southeastern part of Samui, a relic valuable to any Buddhist is kept – the footprint of Buddha himself. Buddha's Footprint is already several hundred years old, and the place where it is located is recognized as sacred.
Amid the jungle there is a modest temple that is quite easy to reach despite the small number of signs. The footprint can be seen by going inside.
In fact, it consists of four footprints nested inside one another, from smaller to larger. It is believed that such imprints of Buddha symbolize the “path of liberation”.
The surface is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting various scenes from Buddhist mythology, birds, animals, people, and boats. It is difficult to understand the nuances of the meanings of all the images if you are not a Buddhist, but the initiated will, of course, understand what is what.
Unfortunately, the condition of the temple still leaves much to be desired – restoration work is currently underway, and one can hope that the 300-year-old structure will shine anew, like all the religious sites of Thailand.
The path to the temple runs through almost pristine jungle, which may seem either an exotic touch or a sign of insufficient upkeep. From the top of the mountain where the temple is located, there is a wonderful view of the local green valleys, hills, and the blue sea.
