Sam Poh Tong Temple is the most well-known of the three, often topping “Best Things to Do in Ipoh” lists, while the others tend to be overlooked. Its status as the oldest cave temple in Ipoh and purportedly the largest cave temple in Malaysia attracts crowds of both locals and tourists.
Sam Poh Tong Temple is situated along a narrow and winding road, slightly further away from the first two temples. Its outer gate may seem plain compared to the others, but the crowds will let you know you’ve arrived. If you’re driving, you can park for free along the road outside the temple. However, during peak periods like Tomb-Sweeping Day or Chinese New Year, a paid parking lot is available in the field across the street, which I recall cost RM10 per car during the 2022 CNY season.
When you reach the outer gate of Sam Poh Tong, you will notice a cart run by an elderly couple selling cold drinks and snacks such as chips. Whether you are beginning or ending your temple visits, it’s a good idea to grab some refreshments since the temples are located in a plain with no shelter from the hot sun. You can even bring your drinks inside the temples. The cart offers reasonably priced sugar cane juice and coconut water with flesh in a takeaway sippy bag, ranging from RM3 to RM5.
To the right of the main arch, keep an eye out for signs directing you to the on-site restaurant. If this is your first temple visit and you’re already feeling hungry, it’s recommended to eat here. The other two temples do not have any food available, and the nearest restaurants are located about a kilometer north off the highway. Sam Poh Tong’s restaurant serves only vegetarian food that follows Buddhist principles. The dining area is dark and cavernous, and the dishes are simple, such as sauteed veggies, tofu, and plain rice. While the food may not be the most satisfying, it will keep you full until you can find somewhere for greasy burgers and beers.
What To See
The entrance to Sam Poh Tong temple in Ipoh is marked by the commanding arch of the Sam Poh Tong arch. The colors of the blues and reds on the arch have been faded by the sun and are not much darker than the white marble columns. However, if you check out the back of the paifang, you can see how bright the colors used to be. While looking up, visitors should not miss the opportunity to admire the carvings on the balustrade of the steps before entering the temple.
The main sanctum inside the temple is surprisingly small and narrow, with linoleum floors and walls that have been plastered in an odd color. Large deity statues and Buddhas are behind glass, while smaller ones sit freely on altars. Visitors can find many statues to explore, including those on the second floor accessible via the staircase just inside the entrance of the cave on the side.
Although some sources mention 246 stairs at Sam Poh Tong that lead to a roof where visitors can get a scenic view of Ipoh, the staircase to this viewing spot was locked behind metal gates that looked like they had been closed for years. The only view of the temple is from the second floor accessible from the stairs mentioned earlier. The archway on the balcony blocks most of the view of the temple grounds below, but it is a good spot to get a closer look at the intricately decorated backside of the paifang. Visitors can also look down at the main chamber from this vantage point, although the upper sanctums were closed off during the last visit, probably due to COVID.
Sam Poh Tong temple, also known as the turtle temple, is home to a booming turtle population. A short, low-ceiling tunnel leads into a chamber flooded with natural light where visitors can find two of the main attractions of Sam Poh Tong. The red pagoda is the centrepiece, and its colors are bright against the grey cliffs. The tortoise pond is surrounded by a metal fence with plenty of space between the bars to observe the hundreds of creatures living in the enclosure. Visitors can buy small tubs of turtle food for about RM5 at the entrance to the temple to feed the turtles.
The temple garden at Sam Poh Tong features a fish pond with fascinating rock formations, miniature statues, and paifangs hidden in the alcoves. Although the water is brown, this garden won the award for “Best Landscaped Garden in Malaysia” in 1993. At the water’s edge, there is a plaque commemorating the temple’s past win. Visitors can walk around the entire periphery of the fish pond, and at the far end, there is a large floating shrine that is currently locked up.
Sam Poh Tong Temple
The address of Sam Poh Tong Temple is Gunung Rapat, 31350 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
The opening hours of the temple are from 9:00am to 4:00pm daily.