Wat Suwan Kuha (Cave Temple)
Wat Suwan Kuha (Cave Temple)
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4.0
300 reviews
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104
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56
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4
HOOMAN
Tehran, Iran1,204 contributions
Apr 2019
Wat Suwan Kuha or as the locals say "Wat Tham" (temple cave) is an interesting cave holding a massive reclining golden Buddha. It is located in outskirt of Phang Nga town (capital of Phang Nga province). It's a holy functioning temple which is a place for worship and also a touristic destination.
There are many monkeys in a short distance from the temple. So another name for the temple is "Monkey Temple". Most of the rafting Tours from Phuket, stop here and let you see the temple and monkeys and take photos. You can also buy eatables like fruit shakes or ice cream from the kiosks near the temple.
Another option for visiting the temple is renting a car. From both Krabi or Phuket it's possible to rent a car and drive to the temple, it takes less than 1.5 hour to get there. Driving along the terrific Cliffs of Phang Nga will reveal exceptional landscapes and the peaceful Wat Suwan Kuha cave.
After visiting the temple it's a good idea to go to the Phang Nga town and eat something, It takes about 10 minutes. I myself recommend eating in the KFC shop in "Thai Chang" district.
There are many monkeys in a short distance from the temple. So another name for the temple is "Monkey Temple". Most of the rafting Tours from Phuket, stop here and let you see the temple and monkeys and take photos. You can also buy eatables like fruit shakes or ice cream from the kiosks near the temple.
Another option for visiting the temple is renting a car. From both Krabi or Phuket it's possible to rent a car and drive to the temple, it takes less than 1.5 hour to get there. Driving along the terrific Cliffs of Phang Nga will reveal exceptional landscapes and the peaceful Wat Suwan Kuha cave.
After visiting the temple it's a good idea to go to the Phang Nga town and eat something, It takes about 10 minutes. I myself recommend eating in the KFC shop in "Thai Chang" district.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shahrzad sh
United Arab Emirates1,871 contributions
Nov 2020
Here was a cave where the temple was located. And here were some Buddha statues. Before wat suwan khuha, the mountains had an enclosure. There was a mountain where there were a lot of monkeys. You can buy corn, bananas, etc. for monkey food in small shops there. The monkeys come down from the mountain and eat from your hands. Be careful of glasses, mobile phones, etc. Monkeys are very playful!
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
teesh00
Perth, Australia122 contributions
Jul 2014
I am currently in bed after having rabies injections. Some monkeys are very aggressive and in looking back have symptoms of rabies. It seemed very strange how the locals were afraid of the aggressive monkeys but our tour guide said nothing. Some monkeys were drooling and running around biting each other and the wild dogs there. We were on out way back to the van a monkey ran out from somewhere for no reason and bit me. It ran away instantly then laid down panting, it looked very sick. After I was bitten the local ladies looked very concerned and chatted a lot. I REPEAT DO NOT GO HERE VERY LIKELY RABIES OUTBREAK. The shots are over 1000 dollars for multiple needles but I'm insured. Rabies causes death.
Written July 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaylie B
144 contributions
Jan 2017
We went on the Natural Khao Lak discovery tour, I tried to leave my review on their page but for some reason I can't.. so I'll leave it here.
First off, the tour guide was awesome, very knowledgable and friendly. The turtle sanctuary, the memorial, the bamboo rafting and the Buddha cave was awesome, would do those again in a heart beat. The food was delicious and they have bathroom stops every where. It's a lot of driving but the beginning part of this tour is worth it.
Second, I'm sad to say but the elephant part was horrible. They don't mention in the description about an "elephant show" at all but at the end of your 45 mins with the chained elephants, there is an elephant show with the baby who is chained and forced to do stupid crap with the "handler" pinching and pulling on his ears and forcing him to do things like play a harmonica. He also uses a hook behind the ears. The elephants have one "pool" with NO mud (they need mud for their skin) that they are made to go into through use of hook and pulling on ears. They are forced to spray water this way as well, as well as laying down and when they want to get up and splash around they are forced to lay back down again so that people can sit on them and touch them and are not let up until people are done with them. Then they are forced out of the water even though they aren't ready to leave yet. The elephant sanctuaries that I've been too don't involve hooks or chains. The elephants should be able to bathe, play, splash, stand, roll and do what ever else they want to do at their own leisure and for as long as they want. It's natural for them. The way things are done here is NOT natural in anyway. They also do elephant riding here which is awful and in the long run, terrible for the elephants. I don't recommend participating in the elephant part. I would recommend the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary instead, its natural and a wonderful experience.
First off, the tour guide was awesome, very knowledgable and friendly. The turtle sanctuary, the memorial, the bamboo rafting and the Buddha cave was awesome, would do those again in a heart beat. The food was delicious and they have bathroom stops every where. It's a lot of driving but the beginning part of this tour is worth it.
Second, I'm sad to say but the elephant part was horrible. They don't mention in the description about an "elephant show" at all but at the end of your 45 mins with the chained elephants, there is an elephant show with the baby who is chained and forced to do stupid crap with the "handler" pinching and pulling on his ears and forcing him to do things like play a harmonica. He also uses a hook behind the ears. The elephants have one "pool" with NO mud (they need mud for their skin) that they are made to go into through use of hook and pulling on ears. They are forced to spray water this way as well, as well as laying down and when they want to get up and splash around they are forced to lay back down again so that people can sit on them and touch them and are not let up until people are done with them. Then they are forced out of the water even though they aren't ready to leave yet. The elephant sanctuaries that I've been too don't involve hooks or chains. The elephants should be able to bathe, play, splash, stand, roll and do what ever else they want to do at their own leisure and for as long as they want. It's natural for them. The way things are done here is NOT natural in anyway. They also do elephant riding here which is awful and in the long run, terrible for the elephants. I don't recommend participating in the elephant part. I would recommend the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary instead, its natural and a wonderful experience.
Written January 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucia A
Bratislava, Slovakia566 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
This was our stop on James Bond island tour. Ugly, agressive monkeys, annoying sellers, Buddha cave is for 5 minutes. Really nothing special to see.
Written April 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mynewlifeistravel
Nerang, Australia2,439 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
This was another attraction included in the day tour, although you do have to pay 20 baht to enter, and 5 baht to use the toilet. There are steps inside that you can walk up and see all the monkeys floating around. The statues and sculptures are definitely worth a visit. Definitely recommend this to anyone who does the Khao lak tours.
Written February 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beatrice
Moosburg, Germany240 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
A cave with a giant reclining Buddha, plus various other statues.
Very scenic setting, the dark cave with the shiny giant Buddha.
At the back is also a really funny (and basic) prophecy machine: donate a coin and it will tell you a number. Next to the machine are numbered stacks of paper- et voilà, your prophecy!
If you donate up front, you can also get the beneficiaries of the local monk and the ribbon tied around you wrist.
When you leave the cave and turn right, you can visit the monkeys. There is a dedicated feeding place, where you can buy bananas for 50 baht to feed them.
The souvenir and coffee stands have realistic prices if you’re in for a coffee or fresh fruit shake.
Very scenic setting, the dark cave with the shiny giant Buddha.
At the back is also a really funny (and basic) prophecy machine: donate a coin and it will tell you a number. Next to the machine are numbered stacks of paper- et voilà, your prophecy!
If you donate up front, you can also get the beneficiaries of the local monk and the ribbon tied around you wrist.
When you leave the cave and turn right, you can visit the monkeys. There is a dedicated feeding place, where you can buy bananas for 50 baht to feed them.
The souvenir and coffee stands have realistic prices if you’re in for a coffee or fresh fruit shake.
Written October 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK185,662 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Went to see Wat Suwan Kuha (aka Cave Temple aka Monkey temple) as part of a tour that took in caves of Phang Nga, Khao Phing Kan aka James Bond Island and the fishing village of Ko Panyi.
As the aka suggests, this is a Buddhist Temple inside a cave. There is a reclining Buddha statue and some other statues of Buddha in various poses and also a monk. The other claim to fame seems to be the cave has been visited by the Thai Royals and have left their personal monograms in the cave.
There's 3 parts to the cave temple. The outer, light cave and dark cave. The outer part of the temple are where most of the statues are, the light cave has a statue of a monk and the royal monogram and the dark cave is located in the inner part of the temple and requires lots of steps. There's really nothing to see in the dark cave apart from a small model stupa, so I wouldn't bother.
I have to say that none of the statues are particularly special or significant and I suspect the main reason tourists come here is to see the monkeys. Most of them are fairly timid, but brave enough to approach the tourists to ask for food. Plenty of souvenir stalls, restrooms and of course enterprising locals who sell bananas tourists can feed to the monkeys.
Only go if you've never seen a cave temple before as it's largely a tourist trap.
As the aka suggests, this is a Buddhist Temple inside a cave. There is a reclining Buddha statue and some other statues of Buddha in various poses and also a monk. The other claim to fame seems to be the cave has been visited by the Thai Royals and have left their personal monograms in the cave.
There's 3 parts to the cave temple. The outer, light cave and dark cave. The outer part of the temple are where most of the statues are, the light cave has a statue of a monk and the royal monogram and the dark cave is located in the inner part of the temple and requires lots of steps. There's really nothing to see in the dark cave apart from a small model stupa, so I wouldn't bother.
I have to say that none of the statues are particularly special or significant and I suspect the main reason tourists come here is to see the monkeys. Most of them are fairly timid, but brave enough to approach the tourists to ask for food. Plenty of souvenir stalls, restrooms and of course enterprising locals who sell bananas tourists can feed to the monkeys.
Only go if you've never seen a cave temple before as it's largely a tourist trap.
Written November 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hofi18
Brno, Czech Republic418 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
Part of the trip to James Bond Island is the visit of Buddha Cave Temple. In the interior of the cave is large statue of the Reclining Buddha and many other statues. Beware of monkeys, which are sometimes aggressive. Next to the park are very interesting Buddhist temples.
Written March 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kayee
Bloemfontein, South Africa60 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
In touch with Buddism Religion was so incredible & heart felt, no words can describe. Its a must visit in Thai
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Więcej informacji o Świątyni Małp - gdzie dokładnie jest
Written February 10, 2019
Hallo wer versorgt mich mit diesem tee.
Written December 15, 2018
Hi! Can't find any opening hours? When is it open for tourist to visit?
Best regards Julia
Written March 6, 2017
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