– JULY 11, 2015

We have travelled via train from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh.  It was a 3 hour journey which had some nice countryside views.  Ipoh is famous for the limestone caves in the area, among them is Sam Poh Tong temple.

Sam Poh Tong is a famous cave temple located in Gunung Rapat, about 5km south of Ipoh.  It is the biggest cave temple in the country and is filled with impressive works of art with various statues of Buddha dispersed amongst the stalactities and stalagmites.  According to legend, the cave was discovered in 1890 by a monk from China who was passing through Ipoh.  He decided to make it his home and a place for meditation.  He remained there for 20 years until his death.  Until today, nuns and monks who dedicate their lives to Buddha still occupy this temple.

The façade dates back to the 1950s.  The interior contains artistic works of both man and nature.  A hard climb of 246 steps to lead you to an open cave with an excellent view of Ipoh and its surroundings.  Other attractions here include a beautiful Japanese pond full of Japanese carps and tortoises, which are a sign of longevity.

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For more photos of our adventure go to our flickr account here.