Wat Tham Sua

Wat Tham Seua - Tiger Cave Temple


Useful Information

Location: 3 km from Krabi.
Open: All year daily.
[2008]
Fee: free.
[2008]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Wat Tham Sua, A.Muang Krabi 81000, Tel: +66-6675-611805
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

Wat means temple, Wat Tham Sua is the temple of the Tiger Cave. Some 260 monks and nuns live in this temple. Tham Sua is a karst cave which is used as a temple and contains Buddha statues. The monks and nuns admire the great master Phra Archan Jumnean Seelasettho, who teaches a very old meditation technique called Vipassana (insight meditation). In the main temple cave bizarre photos of internal organs and split cadavers are shown, to reinforce the temporary nature of the body and help the monks to focus on more spiritual matters.

In the cave there are marks in the stone said to be tiger paw prints, which gave the cave its name. The cave is a place of archaeological and historical interest. Stone tools, pottery remains, and the mold for making Buddha footprints have been found in excavations.

In the rear part of the cave, some 200 m from the entrance, some of the monks live in small wooden houses. Sometimes guests of the monastery are invited to sleep in one of those houses.

But the main tourist attraction is the footprint of the Buddha on top of the karst tower. It is a 1,272 step climb up to see the footprint, which is very strenuous in the heat and the humidity. But the visitor is rewarded with an extraordinary view.