The Tiger Cave Temple (Thai: วัดถ้ําเสือ, RTGS: Wat Tham Suea) is Buddhist temple located north east Krabi, Thailand, and is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the province [1]. It is well known for its the tiger paw prints on the cave, tall Buddha statues and the strenuous flight of stairs to reach the summit.
History
editThe foundations of the temple dates back to 1975 (B.E. 2518) when a Vipassana monk named Jumnean Seelasettho (Ajahn Jumnean) went to meditate under the cave. During his meditation, he witnessed tigers roaming around the cave [2]. This discovery led to naming the temple Wat Tham Suea. Another legend says that an actual huge tiger used to live and roam the cave [3]. The naming of the temple also comes to discoveries of a tiger paw prints on the cave walls, and also the bulge of the cave resembling a tiger's paw [4].
Geography
editThe surrounding at Tham Suea is mostly made of of jungles and forests including many old and growing trees in the Kiriwong Valley. There are many places to go but the places to visit are the caves Tum Khon Than, Tum Lod, Tum Chang Kaeo, and Tum Luk [5]. Many Thanu ancient artifacts were found around the caves and temple grounds. Mountains also cover most of the land around the Tum Sua region along with many other small caves which haven't been visited yet. Wat Tham Suea is a limestone cave and is has skeletons and decorated skulls [6].
The Tham Suea region is the place to go for a meditation center but it also host places of archaeological and historical attractions. Examples of these historical attractions are stone tools, pottery remains and molded Buddha footprints [5].
Stairways
editThe temple has two short stairways that then merges leading to one single stairway leading to the summit, amassing to a total number of 1272 small steps [7]. Another set of stairways lead to a second limestone cave. Summit to the temple is 600 meters (1,968 feet) [6]. Monkeys often roam around the stairs and temple.
Statues
editAt the top of the mountain there is a huge golden Buddha statue that stands at 278 meters tall [8]. The Buddha statue is visible from the bottom of the mountain before climbing the stairs along with other buildings.
Panorama View
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Reference
edit- ^ "Tiger Cave Temple". Andaman Adventures. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple)". KrabiDB. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Wat Tham Seua (Tiger Cave Temple), Krabi". Thaizer. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Sightseeing Tours". Krabi Trek. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua)". Trip Advisor. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)". Viator. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Wat Tham Sua". Krabi-Tourism. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "Krabi Attractions Review – Wat Thamsuea (Tum Sua)". seeKrabi. Retrieved 29 April 2013.