Kek Look Tong Temple, situated at the foothills of Gunung Rapat amidst peaceful lakes, has gained popularity as a tourist hotspot despite its secluded location. The majestic caves and picturesque gardens are a treat to the eyes of every visitor. Although the temple’s history lacks any extraordinary or holy significance, it did serve briefly as a mining site for ore. However, its primary purpose has always been that of a revered place of worship.
Getting Here & Parking
Kek Lok Tong Temple may seem similar to other popular tourist temples like Sam Poh Tong and Da Seng Ngan, but it is actually located on the opposite side of Gunung Rapat and requires a roundabout route due to the absence of a direct path through the mountain.
To get to the temple, one must first reach a cluster of suburban bungalows located on Pesiaran Sepakat 3. At the end of Pesiaran Sepakat 8, a small offshoot road leads to Kek Lok Tong. Although a yellow sign with the words “GUA KEK LOK TONG” marks the junction, it is small and easily missed. The winding road to the temple is narrow, but following it without turning off will eventually lead to the limestone cliffs and the temple gates.
Although parking may not be free during special holidays, Kek Lok Tong provides free parking on most days. The temple’s parking lot is notably large and is probably the biggest of any temple in Ipoh, which means that there will likely be ample space for visitors on an average day.
Although Kek Lok Tong Temple does not charge an entrance fee, visitors are encouraged to donate at the donation booth to help with the upkeep costs. While the temple’s opening time is officially listed as 7 am, the closing time can vary depending on the source of information. However, during our visit, all parts of the temple were closed by 5 pm. At 4:45 pm, a guard closed the high metal gate separating the gardens from the rest of the temple, and a message on a loudspeaker urged visitors to make their way out immediately. Inside the cave, caretakers thanked us for visiting and gently guided us towards the exit.
Entrance Decorations and Cave System at Kek Lok Tong
Upon entering Kek Lok Tong, the entrance alone inspires a picturesque sight. The ivory-colored cliff face has a distinctive line where the vegetation begins, creating a green picture frame around the entrance. At the base of the stairs that gently rise up to the wide, gaping mouth of the cave, Chinese guardian lions stand. In between the lions, a manicured patch of lawn has purple flowers arranged into the Buddhist symbol of peace.
To the right of the cave, there is a fountain and pond stocked with koi – both living and two artificial versions spitting an artistic arc of water from their mouths. Hovering in the middle of the pond is the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin.
Further ahead, there is a cluster of white statues semi-hidden in the trees. The scene depicts a bunch of bearded men playing some sort of board game. However, this is a cut-throat picture-taking spot. Several people hover around, impatiently waiting for the spot to clear so that they can take a photo. One girl flagrantly ruined the photo of the people already posing by planting herself there to get her shot. Therefore, be prepared to wait, have a quick shutter finger, and potentially have some random person in your picture. It is honestly not that interesting, so I don’t have my photo of these board gaming statues.
The cave system at Kek Lok Tong is all about spaciousness. There are no narrow passages or jumbles of Buddhas crammed into a small room. The statues are placed so that there is a wide space in front in which you can admire them while still social distancing. Also contributing is the simple sense of vastness. Except for one small part of the cave, the ceiling height is very high at Kek Lok Tong, and it’s hard not to strain your neck just looking up in wonderment.
A stone Confucius welcomes you at the threshold of Kek Lok Tong. In this first chamber, a lone white deity sits in the middle. On the right is a short rock waterfall with a miniature Bodhisattva, while the left side of this room has administrative desks. There is a large, obvious set of stairs next to the seated Buddha, but in the back corner next to three smaller bronze gods is a hidden staircase. Both of the stairs lead to the second floor, just different spots.
Taking the secret stairs leads to a part of the cave with low clearance. Most visitors will have to hunch walk while going through here. The rock ceiling is just barely above the head, with stubby stalactites jutting down even lower. There are no statues or anything to see in this part of the temple, but visitors can still go deep into a snug little corner of the cave.
The cave system at Kek Lok Tong isn’t that extensive. Visitors will shortly arrive at stairs leading down into a chamber with a wide opening leading back outside. There are three pretty epic bronze statues facing the natural light: a Bodhisattva riding an elephant, a Buddha on a lotus bed with many smaller Buddhas facing it, with the third Bodhisattva being mounted on an imperial guardian lion.
A big Laughing Buddha gets a prime spot overlooking the gardens outside, while a smaller statue lives in his shadow directly behind him. Before checking out the gardens, there is a set of stairs that leads back up. The area up here is where visitors can get the best view of the cave’s natural beauty, where the rippling grooves in the rock and the stalactite formations can be seen up close.