Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels
SAM POH TONG & LING SEN TONG TEMPLES IPOH
Gunung Rapat, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - September 2014
On a bike-packing cycling trip from Ipoh to Teluk Intan, we stopped by to visit the Sam Poh Tong Temple and Ling Sen Tong Temple. These temples are built into the caves of the limestone hills of Gunung Rapat on the southern outskirts of Ipoh.
Unfortunately, due to time constraint, we did not go inside into the caves where there are more statues carved into the stalactites and stalagmites. These here are some of the photos taken while we were there.
THE SAM POH TONG
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| The entrance arch to Sam Poh Tong. |
From outside, the Sam Poh Tong Temple may not rival many temples or clan-houses in Malaysia, eg. like the Khoo Kongsi in Penang, or the Cheng Hoon Teng in Malacca.
It is its feature of being built into the limestones caves that makes it unique. It's like an ice-berg; more is hidden from the eyes and yet to be revealed with further exploration. It's a pity that we were on a tight schedule and did not have the time to go into the caves and be awed by the inside. But this teaser view will certainly encourage me to stop for a more lengthy visit the next time I pass by.
Two elephant statues greets visitors as the cross over a bridge leading to the temple.
A close look at one of the elephants show that they are carrying stone lamps that will light up the bridge in the evening.
A red marble tablet nearby states that the temple was founded in 1912, making it just over a century old.
Hey! It also says there is an award winning garden nearby. Let's go there and have a quick look first.
A pair of mythical creatures carrying lamps guards the entrance to the landscaped garden.
Walking through a path that leads to the garden is like a walk that transform us from the tropics to a scenery from China. At the centre is a small pond and to another side is what seems to be quarters and prayer halls, building that are built partly into the side of the limestone hill. At the far end is another building, an annexe temple perhaps.
The garden sits amidst a pond, it has been crafted to look like mountains overlooking a lake, simulating a China scenery.
The landscape pond with an island shrine sited in the middle.
A laughing Buddha stands.... happily in the garden.
As we left the temple, I noticed that on each side of the bridge, stone lion statues guard the entrance to the temple.
THE LING SENG TONG
A little further out is the Ling Sen Tong Temple. This looks like a newer temple, a colourful Taoist temple which is also built into the limestone hills.
Dragons line the entrance wall of the temple, on the left is a blue one with a fiery red mane.
And on the right a purplish dragon.
The two storey temple with its yellow glazed roof tiles looks fairly new, perhaps it has been refurbished. Colourful statues greet visitors. To one side is a large golden frog statue biting a tael coin - a simple for bringing prosperity.
On the 2nd floor a golden dragon curls itself round a column while coiled joss sticks are ready to be burnt a as offerings.
Within the coiled joss-sticks a blessings written on red paper.
To one corner of the compound, a large statue of Kwan Yin stands on a lotus bloom.
At another section are characters from the Chinese epic Journey To The West.
The monk Xuanzang with his disciples Sun Wukong (Monkey), Zhu Bajie (Pig) and Sha Wujing (Sandy) are in their classic pose as they head out on their journey.
A round arch with golden lions guards leads to a inner section of the temple.
This inner section houses the shrine to Kwan Yin, with the Eight Immortals leading the way in.
In the shrine is a statue of Kwan Yin flanked by her two attendants, Lung Nu the Dragon Maiden and Sudhana the Virtuous Talent.
View Sam Poh Tong Temple Ipoh in a larger map
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