Sam Poh Tong

One of Ipoh's oldest cave temples on the southern outskirts. A passage through a limestone cave opens onto a Japanese-style garden and a turtle pond framed by sheer cliffs, serene and picturesque.

Sam Poh Tong lies beneath the limestone hill of Gunung Rapat, about 5 km south of Ipoh, and is one of the city's oldest and largest cave temples. Legend has it that a Chinese monk wandering through the area in the late 19th century discovered the cave and meditated inside, and it was gradually expanded into a Buddhist temple. The temple's exterior is Chinese in style. In front of the entrance is an exquisite Japanese-style garden, where koi ponds, a small bridge, bonsai and a little pavilion are reflected against the limestone cliffs behind, making it the most popular photo spot. Inside the cave are several Buddha statues. After passing through the dim cave tunnel, you emerge into a “sky well” enclosed on all sides by towering cliffs. Here is a pond for releasing turtles, and looking up you see only a patch of sky, a world apart. A steep staircase inside also climbs halfway up the hill. Admission is free; opening hours are approximately 08:00–16:00. The nearby Nam Thean Tong, a short walk away, and the more distant Ling Sen Tong are also cave temples and can be visited at the same time. Getting there: about 15 minutes by taxi from Old Town. It can be combined with Kek Lok Tong in the same half-day trip. Note: the cave floor is slippery and the lighting is dim. Please respect the religious site, and do not feed or touch the turtles.

Sam Poh Tong

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