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Ipoh's cave temples: Sam Poh Tong, Kek Lok Tong and Perak Tong

Ipoh's three main cave temples are Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong at Gunung Rapat on the southern edge of the city, and Perak Tong on the northern outskirts. All three are free to enter, with donations welcome. Go in the morning, cover shoulders and knees, and take a Grab, as they are 5–7 km from the centre.

By D Eastern front desk · Updated 2026-11-06

Getting there from D Eastern

6 kmby road to Sam Poh Tong
Short Grab ridetravel time
Morningtime to allow
How to get there
  • Grab: the temples are 5–7 km from the centre
Busy times · best time to go
Go in the morning; Sam Poh Tong is reported to close early. Thaipusam is the biggest day of the year at the Kallumalai temple, with huge crowds.

Directions in Google Maps →

Ipoh sits in a valley of limestone hills, and several of those hills hide Buddhist and Taoist temples built inside natural caves. The three most visited are Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong, which sit on opposite sides of Gunung Rapat to the south of the city, and Perak Tong, on the northern outskirts. All three are free to enter. Donations are welcome.

Published opening hours for all three vary from source to source, and Sam Poh Tong in particular is reported to close early. The safe plan is to go in the morning.

How far are the cave temples from the city centre?

TempleAreaStraight-line distance from D EasternGetting there
Sam Poh TongGunung Rapat, southabout 5.2 kmGrab, about 10–15 minutes (about 5.5 km by road)
Kek Lok TongGunung Rapat, south (far side)about 6.8 kmGrab, about 15–20 minutes (about 8 km by road)
Perak TongGunung Tasek, northabout 5.5 kmGrab, about 10–15 minutes (about 7 km by road)
Kallumalai TempleGunung Cheroh, Jalan Raja Musa Azizabout 1.25 kmAbout 16 minutes' walk, or a short Grab ride

Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong are close together, so they pair well in one morning. Perak Tong is on the other side of the city, on the road towards Kuala Kangsar. A sensible loop is Sam Poh Tong first (it closes earliest), then Kek Lok Tong, then Perak Tong after lunch. The front desk can help you book a Grab for each leg.

Sam Poh Tong: Ipoh's oldest cave temple

What it is: a Buddhist cave temple at Gunung Rapat. The name means "Cave of Triple Gems", referring to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. It is often described as the oldest and main cave temple in Ipoh.

History: the cave is said to have been discovered in 1890 by a Buddhist monk from China, who lived and meditated there until his death about 20 years later. Monks and nuns continued after him. Construction of the temple is said to date from 1912, and the current façade was added in 1950. Wikipedia gives the 1950s as the temple's construction date, so the sources do not fully agree.

What to see: a landscaped garden around a large fish pond, which won "Best Landscaped Garden in Malaysia" in 1993, and a turtle and tortoise pond where visitors can buy produce to feed them. The 246-step staircase up the hillside is reported to be locked to visitors.

Hours and entry: free. Recent listings give about 7:30–8am to 2–2:30pm daily (checked Nov 2026), and older guides note that hours are irregular. It closes earlier than its neighbours, so go first thing.

Kek Lok Tong: the "Cave of Ultimate Bliss"

What it is: a large, airy cave temple on the far side of Gunung Rapat, with Buddhist and Taoist statues cast in Taiwan, and lakeside gardens behind it.

History: the cave has been a place of worship since the 1920s. In the 1960s it became part of an iron-ore mining site and parts were dug out. After mining stopped it returned to religious use and opened to visitors in the 1970s. The lakes are left over from the mining.

What to see: the cave floor is paved and the lower walls lined with marble, while the roof keeps its natural stalactites. Outside are gardens, gazebos and a reflexology path. Boat and bicycle hire is available, but CK Travels reports these concessions are closed on Tuesdays. Malaysia Traveller notes a wheelchair ramp and accessible toilets.

Hours and entry: free, with a donation booth. Recent listings give an opening time of about 7–8:30am and closing at about 4:30–5pm daily (checked Nov 2026). Some areas may close a little early, so arrive by 4pm.

Perak Tong: murals and a long climb

What it is: a Buddhist cave temple at the foot of Gunung Tasek, on Ipoh's northern outskirts near Taman Loke Lim.

History: Perak Tong was discovered in 1926 by Chong Sen Yee and his wife Choong Chan Yoke, who came from China. After their deaths their son Chong Yin Chat took over and developed the site.

What to see: a golden seated Buddha about 40 feet (12 m) tall, and cave walls covered with colourful murals from Chinese mythology and Buddhist scripture. A long staircase leads up through the cave to a pavilion with views over Ipoh. Sources give anything from 218 to 450 steps, so allow for several hundred, and they can be slippery.

Hours and entry: free, with donations welcome. Recent guides give about 8am to 4:30–5pm daily, and a sign at the foot of the staircase gives climbing hours of 9am–4pm (checked Nov 2026). Start the climb well before 4pm.

What should I wear to Ipoh's cave temples?

  • Cover shoulders and knees. Avoid sleeveless tops and very short shorts or skirts. A sarong or light scarf in your bag makes a quick cover-up.
  • Wear non-slip shoes. Cave floors and steps can be damp. Flip-flops are a slip risk on the Perak Tong climb.
  • Take your shoes off where you see a sign or a row of shoes outside an inner shrine.
  • These are working temples. Speak quietly, don't use flash near altars, and give way to people praying.
  • Beat the heat. The limestone hills get very hot from late morning to mid-afternoon, so start at 8–9am. Carry water and a small torch or phone light for darker passages.

Kallumalai Temple and Thaipusam

Kallumalai Arulmigu Sri Subramaniar Temple, at 140 Jalan Raja Musa Aziz below Gunung Cheroh, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is not one of the Chinese cave temples, but it is the closest of these sites to the centre. It is said to have been established in 1889 as a small shrine inside a cave in Gunung Cheroh and was later rebuilt, though sources give different years and reasons for the rebuilding. Opening hours are not published officially, so check before you go. Dress modestly and follow any signs about removing shoes.

Thaipusam is the temple's biggest day. Ipoh Echo reported more than 300,000 devotees and visitors at the 2025 celebration. The chariot and kavadi processions run from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Sungai Pari, Buntong, to Kallumalai, and several major roads were closed and rerouted. Thaipusam 2027 falls on Friday 22 January, a public holiday in Perak. Expect heavy traffic and road closures around Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, and check police notices in the days before.

If you only have one morning, Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong are the easiest pair, as they sit on the same hill. Start at about 8am to beat the heat and Sam Poh Tong's early closing.

Sources

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