CAVES OF KINTA VALLEY

THE BEAUTY OF KINTA VALLEY CAVES

Perak has the highest number of caves in the country, and the unique sight is the many cave temples, built inside or in between the limestone hills or over a cliff with the hills as the backdrop.

Each cave temple, some of which were built in the 1800s, has its own story to tell.

KWONG FOOK NAM TEMPLE

Besides, the state is also proud of its 505-million-year-old limestone hills which is a ‘gem’ found in the Kinta Valley including the uncountable rock formations found inside the caves.

Of recent, the state government has gazetted the limestone hills as a national geopark by 2017, covering three districts mainly Batu Gajah, Ipoh and Kampar featuring waterfall, limestone hills and hotspring.

SAM POH TONG

LIN SIN TONG, was built in 1960 by a retired contractor Loh Chee Min who originally planned to erect the temple for housing his Tai Pak Koong deity. It was said that while he was scouting the area along Jalan Gopeng in the 60s, where he found crystal clear water flowing in this area. He thought it was a good omen, and proceeded to build a temple here.

LIN SIN TONG

The Lin Sin Tong temple is now an eye-catching cave temple where one will not missed while driving along Jalan Gopeng.

LIN SIN TONG

There is an impressive Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) surrounded with celestial beings like the God of Wealth, God of Longevity, Monkey God and Drunken Monk in the garden.

Other attractions include the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, deities from popular Chinese folklore characters, a painting of the ‘Eight Immortals’ and mystical dragons.

GODDESS OF MERCY

NAM THEAN TONG, is a beautiful limestone cave temple framed by stalactite and stalagmite formations, is believed to be the oldest temple in the Gunung Rapat area.

It was discovered by a priest Kuong San Teik in 1867, and visitors are encouraged to climb the 138 steps staircase to the top, which gives a bird eye’s view of Ipoh City.

NAM THEAN TONG

SAM POH TONG, built in 1912, is popular among tourists who come to pray to the statues of Buddha and other deities, feed the tortoise or take a walk in its landscaped garden which was awarded as the Best Landscaped Garden in Malaysia in 1993.

SAM POH TONG

KWAN YIN TONG, a 108-year-old temple which houses 100 Goddess of Mercy statues, was originally named Chin Hui Sze founded by Reverend Ho Poh.

It was much neglected until devotees decided to do something about it.

In 1986, the temple authorities received approval from the state government to preserve it as a cave temple as well as to turn it into a tourist attraction. 

KWAN YIN TONG

Later on, the temple become popular for organising a hive of activities to encourage devotees to perform a variety of rituals such as touching an ‘unmovable stone’ for good luck, ‘fixing padlocks o a chain’ to enhance love between lovers and married couples, a ‘wishing tree’, and the Chap Goh Meh (Chinese Valentine’s Day) which falls on the 15^th day of the Chinese New Year.

DECORATIONS IN KWAN YIN TONG

KWONG FOOK NGAM, is a cave temple built inside a well preserved Malaysian Natural crystal limestone cave, founded by a monk, named Wei Chia in 1884, in Kampung Kepayang. 

KWONG FOOK NAM

 

The temple was opened to public in 1993. Visitors here can view its 20 natural rock formations in the shapes of animals, deities and human figurines. Among others, the stalagmites and stalactites are in the shape of a rabbit, snakes, a tapir, bear, dragon and a meditating Buddha. Highlight is the majestic elephant figurine formed by stalagmites, popular among visitors to this cave.

KWONG FOOK NAM

SRI SIVA SUBRAMANIAM TEMPLE - a ‘must see’ Indian temple, established in 1900 located in Kampung Kepayang. It is also known as the second Batu Caves Temple and it houses one of the unusual rock formation is that of an elephant figurine.

SRI SIVA SUBRAMANIAM TEMPLE

PERAK CAVE TEMPLE - In 1926, Chong Sen Yee and his wife Choong Chan Yoke who came from Jiao Ling, China discovered this cave. On approval by state government, they started to plan development and raised funds via donation to build Perak Tong. 

PERAK TONG

After 50 years, this cave temple has become one of the best cave temples in the country, as the temple underwent refurbishment from time to time.

There is a present of a 40 feet Buddha statue coupled with natural limestone wonder decorated with statue and deities and a piece of calligraphy writing by Chong, himself.

Visitors can climb the 450 steps to the top of the limestone hill for an overview of the city.

PERAK TONG

KEK LOOK TONG, was initiated in the 1960s as ‘Tien Hou Gong’ by the late Chooi Ah Kee who was an iron mine operator, located in Gunung Rapat.

KEK LOOK TONG

In 1982, his son presented over the prayer section of the cave to a non-profit organisation, Kek Look Seah which oversees the development of the cave temple incorporating shrines, deities, celestial and statues.

The cave temple was a winner for landscape awards particularly accolades from the state government for non-Muslim houses of worship.

GUA ANAK DATOH – is located within the vicinity of Lost World of Tambun. It is a small cave – which takes one hour walk through is sufficient for visitors. 

GUA ANAK DATOH

GUA KANTHAN is one of the most visited caves in the Kinta Valley and is nicknamed “The Cathedral” because of its impressive size. 

It is located in Gunung Kanthan, near Chemor and is the northernmost limestone hill in the Kinta Valley. The cave is impressive because of its huge size and that it has a river following through. 

 GUA KANTHAN OR THE CATHEDRAL

If visitors are there at the right time on a sunny day, they will be impressed by a shaft of sunlight beaming through the back chamber. 

The cave is also home to cave fauna, bats and invertebrates. Its most important inhabitant is Liphistius Kanthan – a trapdoor spider and it is endemic to the cave, having been found nowhere else. Liphistius Kanthan is listed on the Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Bill 2012 as a protected species.

GUA TEMPURUNG - is one of the largest limestone caves in Peninsular Malaysia, located near Gopeng. The cave itself is about 2 km in length – made up of five huge domes, well-lit interior boasts elegant formations of stalactites and stalagmites. The 5 domes are Golden Flowstone Cavern, Giant Cavern, Tin Mine Cavern, Universe Cavern and Battle field Cavern. There are rock formations such as snake, Goddess of Mercy, face and animals among others. Also a fine river cave, the underground river passage runs for 1.6 km through the hill. One can either choose a guided river or non river adventure tour upon reaching the reception.

GUA TEMPURUNG

6TH MILE TUNNEL – the tunnel was discovered in 2006, got its name from the sixth mile of a village located at is both a former abandoned tin mining areas as well as a communist hideout. The 700-m tunnel was dark and quiet, is definitely a cave tunnel where one need to walk knee-deep mud, swimming across a shallow pool before continuing to walk through chest deep water inside the tunnel. Along the way, you can experience story about history and learn about mining artifacts and the stalactites in the making.

SIXTH MILE TUNNEL CAVE

BATU CAVES – is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak, Selangor. The limestone forming Batu Cages is said to be around 400 million years old – the cave entrances were used as shelters by the Orang Asli tribe. It takes its name from the Stone River, which flows past the hill. The cave is one of the most popular Tamil shrines outside India, and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam, in Malaysia. Batu Caves is also centre of rock climbing development in Malaysia, where it offers more than 160 climbing routes. So far, the cave has 272 concrete steps painted in extraordinary color scheme where visitors can have a walk up the caves using these steps. 

BATU CAVES