Wat Tham Sua, Krabi

Wat Tham Sua, also known in English as Tiger Cave Temple, is a temple 5 km from Krabi Town inside a long shallow limestone cave, surrounded by natural forest. Wat Tham Sua, one of the south's most famous meditation centres, takes its name from a stone formation nearby which resembles a tiger's claw. Today, about 250 monks and nuns live in the temple compound.

I have visited Wat Tham Sua a couple of times with members of AsiaExplorers, whenever I explore the sights along the coast of South Thailand. Wat Tham Sua is away from the main tourist destinations such as Phuket and Ko Samui. As such, not many tourists from outside Thailand knows about it. In a way, that is good, as it keeps the place pristine.

Two flights of staircases wind up the limestone cliffs of Wat Tham Sua, the first one leads with 1,200 steps to the top of the mountain offering a superb 360 degree view definitely worth a try. The pillars of the staircase indicates how many steps you have already climbed. A family of monkeys lives around the stairs. Arriving at the top, you will be rewarded with the incredible view and a huge sitting Buddha, a golden pagoda and few other small constructions. The second one (only 130 steps!) leads into a valley where the monks live in simple huts.

Riddled with cave systems, the whole area of Wat Tham Sua has revealed many archeological findings including stone tools, pottery shards, and unfired clay holy images, dating from prehistoric times. The temple also runs a meditation centre.

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