Sam Poh Tong
Gunung Rapat, Ipoh, Perak
Sam Poh Tong is a Chinese Buddhist temple on the southeastern edge of Ipoh among the limestone hills of Gunung Rapat. This cave temple dates back to the 1950s but is said to have been discovered by a Chinese monk in 1890. Aside from its religious value, the gardens and open-air cave pagoda make this temple one of Ipoh’s most picturesque.
Despite being built into a limestone hill, the temple of Sam Poh Tong hardly hides from view. Approaching the temple, you’re met by an ornate front facade, with ornamental gardens built around a koi pond set off to the side. Walking through the temple, its second floor, and cave pagoda won’t take more than half an hour. Tours around Ipoh generally include Sam Poh Tong as one of the several local temples they visit.
- Admission to the temple is free, but donations upon entry are welcomed.
- The temple generally closes by mid-afternoon, so check the current opening hours to ensure you can get in.
- Thanks to its ornate design and gardens, visiting the temple is an interesting experience for all travelers, not only those with a spiritual connection.
- Various steps and small staircases throughout the cave and the stairs to the second floor mean that Sam Poh Tong is not wheelchair-friendly or easily accessible for those with mobility concerns.
- The red pagoda inside the temple’s inner pit cave is not open to the public.
The easiest way to get to Sam Poh Tong temple is to take the 66 bus from the Public Bank stop on Jalan Sultan Idris Shah to the bus stop a short walk from the temple entrance. Alternatively, travelers can get there comfortably using a rideshare service like Grab or by visiting as part of a guided tour.
Sam Poh Tong is open daily throughout the year. Ipoh isn’t among Malaysia’s busiest destinations, so you won’t have to worry too much about crowds of tourists during your visit. If possible, avoid visiting in March and April or between September and December, as the two different monsoon seasons almost guarantee rainy weather during these times of the year.
Gunung Rapat has several cave temples that tourists can visit, including the twin Taoist cave temples of Nam Thean Tong and Ling Sen Tong, immediately next to Sam Poh Tong. Kek Lok Tong, another Buddhist temple inside an immense cave, sits across the far side of Gunung Rapat. However, the most famous temple in Ipoh is the Perak Tong Cave Temple and its golden Buddha to the north of the city.
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