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The Tiger Cave Temple ( th, วัดถ้ำเสือ, ) is a
Previously, the temple had one stairway with 1,237 steps leading to the summit (see photo). The stairs have been recently updated with a rebuilt section and now has 1,260 stairs leading to the summit. Some of the
The Tiger Cave Temple ( th, วัดถ้ำเสือ, ) is a Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
north-northeast of Krabi
Krabi ( th, กระบี่, ) is the main town in the province of Krabi (''thesaban mueang'') on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phang Nga Bay. As of 2020, the town had a population of 3 ...
, Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
. A sacred site, it is known for the tiger paw prints in the cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
, tall Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
statues and the strenuous flight of stairs to reach the summit.
History
The foundation of the temple dates back to 1975 (B.E. 2518) when a Vipassana monk named Jumnean Seelasettho (Ajahn Jumnean) went to meditate in the cave. During his meditation, he witnessed tigers roaming around the cave. This discovery led to naming the temple Wat Tham Suea. Another legend says that an actual hugetiger
The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...
used to live and roam the cave. The naming of the temple also comes from discoveries of a tiger paw prints on the cave walls, and also the bulge of the cave resembling a tiger's paw.
Geography
The surroundings of Wat Tham Suea consists of tropical rain forest including many old trees in the Kiriwong Valley. Caves to visit are Tum Khon Than, Tum Lod, Tum Chang Kaeo, and Tum Luk. Many Thanu ancient artifacts were found around the caves and temple grounds. Mountains also cover most of the land around the Tham Sua region along with many other small caves that are not accessible to tourists. In various parts of the temple, you can see human skeletons and decorated skulls. The Tham Sua temple is a Thai Buddhist meditation center and also has places of archaeological and historical significance. Examples of these historical attractions are stone tools, pottery shards, and molded Buddha footprints.Stairways
Previously, the temple had one stairway with 1,237 steps leading to the summit (see photo). The stairs have been recently updated with a rebuilt section and now has 1,260 stairs leading to the summit. Some of the stair riser
Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...
s are more than a foot (30 cm) high. The top of the stairs is 278 meters' elevation. Elsewhere on the compound, 184 steps lead to the foothills area where monks live in the caves. Monkeys roam the lower stairs and temple grounds. Occasionally people are bitten and require hospital treatment.
Statues
At the top of the mountain there is a large goldenBuddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
statue. This statue, other temple buildings, and much of Krabi town can be seen from shrine at the top of the stairs.
Gallery
References
{{coord, 8.1240, N, 98.9252, E, source:wikidata, display=title Buddhist temples in Krabi Province Buddhist caves in Thailand