Tiger Cave Temple in Kanchanaburi

Description and is it worth a visit

Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) can be called one of the most interesting and beautiful temples in Thailand, and definitely the most beautiful in Kanchanaburi province.

The temple is large and multi-level, and there is even a funicular to climb up, although it will not be difficult to climb on foot. At the top there is a large statue of a sitting Buddha with a height of 18 meters, near which most tourists and believers gather most often. There are also several more statues here and offerings in the form of a lotus flower, incense and gold leaf are sold for 20 baht, which anyone can buy and use in a simple ritual, which tourists are happy to do. But besides this statue, there are many more interesting things here. You can climb to the very top of one of the pagodas (the ascent is carried out by a spiral staircase inside), which offers a wonderful view of the surroundings and the neighboring Chinese temple. A special shrine is kept on the topmost level of the pagoda. Also, do not forget to find the entrance to the tiger cave. The cave itself is small and filled with shrines and tiger figurines. On one of the walls in the cave you can see a lot of coins inserted into the cracks. You can also leave a coin here for good luck, and for the gods to be kind.

But the most interesting thing here is the mummy of a monk. It is located in the sarcophagus in a separate pavilion, and the video image from the sarcophagus itself is broadcast to the installed monitors. Believers and monks of the temple believe that in fact it is not a mummy, but just a monk who has reached such a level of enlightenment that he plunged into nirvana, and life still continues in his body. They say that his hair and nails are growing, and one day he will wake up to tell the world about the meaning of life. To capture this moment, video cameras and monitors are installed.

You can move around the temple completely freely and see everything you want, but only monks are allowed to enter some rooms. To enter the buildings of the temples, you need to take off your shoes, and to visit the entire complex, you should be dressed appropriately: miniskirts, shorts, T-shirts with open shoulders are not allowed.