Tiger Cave Temple

Located at Tambon Krabi Noi about 7 km northeast of the city center, the Tiger Cave Temple is one of Krabi's main attractions as well as one of the province's holiest Buddhist sites. Known by the locals as Wat Tham Sua, the temple is well known for the tiger paw prints in its main cave, tall Buddha statues and the strenuous flight of stairs to reach the summit. The Tiger Cave Temple is a Thai Buddhist meditation center and also a place of archaeological and historical significance. In various parts of the temple, you can see human skeletons, decorated skulls, stone tools, pottery shards, and molded Buddha footprints. Most of temple area here is a warren of natural limestone caves formed inside the foot of an impressive cliff. The foundation of the temple dates back to 1975, when a monk named Jumnean Seelasettho went to meditate in the caves. During his meditation, the monk witnessed tigers roaming around the caves. The temple name actually derives from the discovery of tiger paw prints on the walls of the main cave, and also the bulge of the cave itself resembling a tiger's paw. There are beautiful icons in the cave, but the real attraction of temple is to reach the terrace on top where lies the Buddha’s footprint. There is a stairway with 1,237 steps leading to the summit, with some of the steps more than 30 cm high. The top of the stairs is at 278 meters of elevation. The climb is really challenging, especially considering the Thai climate, but the vista from terrace is amazing and worth the effort. The panoramic 360 degree view encompasses the Andaman Sea, dramatic limestone cliff formations, and verdant rainforests in the Kiriwong Valley. The vistas are particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset, which is also the best time to climb up and avoid the heat. On the terrace there is also a large golden Buddha statue and other temple buildings. Elsewhere on the temple grounds, 184 steps lead to the foothills area where monks live in the caves. Monkeys roam the lower stairs and temple grounds. Do not tease the monkeys or get between the adults and young, as occasionally people are bitten and require hospital treatment. Remember to bring a bottle of water with you before to climb, and also remove any jewellery, sunglasses or valuable items which may be taken by spiteful monkeys.
Getting There
Wat Tham Sua is located at Tambon Krabi Noi, about 7 km northeast of Krabi downtown and 21 km from Ao Nang. There are no public transport options to reach the temple directly from Krabi Town or Ao Nang area. As a result, if you do not have your own car or a rented scooter, the easiest way to get to Wat Tham Sua is by mini-bus, taxi or cheap song-thaew. Read More