- Address: Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Bayan Lepas Industrial Park, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Tel: +60 4-643 7273
- Built: 1850
The snake temple is located in Sungai Kluang in the east of Penang Island in Malaysia . The first impression that is created by tourists when looking at it is the usual temple, there are many such places on Penang. Yes, and it is located in an uncomfortable place for visitors, in the industrial zone between the capital of the island Georgetown and the airport . But there is one nuance that made this temple one of the most famous in Malaysia - it's snakes.
Historical background and the legend of the creation of the temple
The temple was founded in 1850, and today there is no such place in the world. And it all started about a thousand years ago, when in China the Song dynasty rules. Then the Snake Temple in Malaysia was called "Temple of azure sky" - because of the beautiful shade of the sky above the island of Penang . But for many centuries this place is considered a shelter for reptiles, therefore they replaced the name.
There lived a monk-hermit Chor Soo Kong, who devoted his whole life to self-improvement and faith, for this he received a spiritual rank in his youth. According to legend, he could heal the infirm of any disease and was also known as the protector of the reptiles of the jungle. In the monk's dwelling, the snakes felt very comfortable, and after his death they continued to live there. When the temple was erected on this place, the snakes began to consider it as their home. According to the ministers, on the birthday of Chor Soo Kong, an innumerable number of snakes creep in, filling the entire space of the temple.
What to see?
The exterior of the Serpentine Temple is no different from the traditional Buddhist structure: a variety of bright colors throughout the facade, dragons adorning the upper part of the structure and, of course, trees in pots arranged along the perimeter of the courtyard. Entering the room, filled with aromas of incense, you need to prepare for a meeting with a huge number of snakes. They are everywhere: on the floor and on the windows, up and down, on the trees and even in the sacrificial vessels. The monks made special stands, on which these beauties can lie for hours on end.
Interesting facts about the Temple of Snakes:
- In the main, the snakes that are in the temple belong to the genus of poisonous temple cathedrals or yamkogolovye, such as the shimmer or thunderbolt. Also here live pythons, vipers, cobra and small meter representatives of the local jungle.
- It is believed that because of the effects of sacred incense, snakes are safe for visitors. They are active at night, and in the daytime they are more apathetic and listless. It is not known for certain whether the poison teeth were removed from the inhabitants of the temple or not, but during the entire period of its existence no one was hurt. But for greater security on the entire perimeter of the temple signs are hung with a request not to touch its unusual inhabitants.
- In the temple there is a side hall for filming. Local masters of the photo will happily take a picture of you by putting one snake on your head, and several more will be laid out on the arms and neck. As an example of fearlessness, photos of tourists, even children, are hanged in this hall in an embrace with snakes. For 2 photos you will pay about $ 9.
- The courtyard can not be bypassed either, there is a beautiful garden, a green alley and, of course, many, many snakes.
- For only $ 2 you can go to the snake farm, which is two steps from the temple. You have the opportunity to take on the hands of a huge python, to touch a rare kind of cobra-albino or to stroke the royal cobra. There is also a small pond with very curious turtles.
- The entrance to the Temple of Snakes is free, but in the central hall there is an urn for donations. Visit daily from 9:00 to 18:30. Also nearby there are many souvenir shops and cafes.
How to get there?
Despite the fact that the Serpent Temple is located 3 km from the airport, it will be problematic to reach the motorway on foot. It is more convenient to take buses №№ 102,306,401,401E, which depart from the bus station Komtar. The main thing in this trip is not to miss the necessary stop Osram, which will be on the right side.