Wat Roi Phra Putthabat Phu Manorom – Mukdahan’s Giant Buddha

A lot of people head to Mukdahan to continue into Laos but while passing through, it is worth a visit to Wat Roi Phra Putthabat Phu Manorom (วัดรอยพระพุทธบาทภูมโนรมย์), a temple high up in the hillside.

There is a huge Buddha statue rising 84 meters including its base soaring high, looking out across the Mekong River and Laos. But to make this temple even more interesting, a 120-meter long naga sits to the left, poking its head up through the trees.

Opening times: Confirm current temple and viewpoint access hours before visiting.

The first thing you will see as you approach the temple is the Buddha. It is quite fascinating to see this massive statue reaching out above the trees. The Buddha statue has four floors, including a rooftop with a fascinating panoramic view of Mukdahan, Laos and the Mekong River; check which areas are currently open before going inside. You can also see the Friendship Bridge from here.

When we visited, there was nothing else inside the statue, but there was a lot of construction happening and it looks like they have some big plans.

Naga – This serpent is a real eye pleaser. From here, you can get a view of the naga with the Buddha statue in the background. This makes for some great photo opportunities. Buddhists perform a ritual here where they pray and walk around the naga, hitting a gong along the way before tying a piece of red ribbon to a tree.

Buddha footprint – The word putthabat (พุทธบาท) means Buddha footprint. There is a small replica within the temple grounds.

A garden – The whole temple grounds are beautiful. The garden hosts some lovely greenery and a nice water fountain. There is also a viewing platform to get some great photos.

The view – One of the reasons people come here is for the view. Close to the car park is a view point that looks out across Laos, but the most impressive view is from the top of the Buddha statue. This is a great place to watch the sunset.

Getting there

The temple sits on the opposite side of the national park but you do not actually go in the park. There is a road that curves up the mountain to the temple. Check where private vehicles must stop and whether you need the temple's songtaew service. We visited here in the evening when it was quiet and were able to drive all the way to the main carpark. When we went again the next morning, we had to park in a carpark further down the road and take a songtaew the rest of the way. Ask about the current fare or donation arrangements before boarding.

Here is the GPS location if you wish to follow your satnav.

How much does it cost?

Check current admission and transport arrangements with the temple before visiting.

Photo gallery