Malaysia is a land of Cultural and Heritage. Despite being on track with the modern advancements, Malaysia has held on to its tradition and ancient history. While Langkawi is popular for its pristine beaches, Penang is famous for its cultural heritage. The coastal heritage hub, Penang, has some Chinese mansions built 2-3 centuries ago and the George Town which is known for its colonial architecture. Yet another amazing historical monument in the cultural city of Malaysia, Penang, is the Snake Temple. Continue reading to know more about these snakes and the temple.

A temple in Penang, Malaysia — Photo by Yaopey Yong on Unsplash

The Snake Temple – What’s it all about?

The Snake Temple is a Chinese temple in Bayan Lepas, Southwest Penang Island district of Penang in Malaysia. It also goes by the name “Temple of the Azure Cloud” among most people. The Buddhist monk, Chor Soo Kong built the temple in the year 1805. He holds a high place in the hearts of the Malaysian people even now. He is also popularly known for his noble virtue, medical expertise and empathy for the people. The place is significantly visited by the people from Singapore, Taiwan and China, especially to commemorate the monk’s birthday during the sixth day of the first lunar month. Have you seen the popular American reality show “Amazing Race”? Well, if you have, then you might have seen the Snake Temple in the 16th instalment of the show, after which it got hugely popular.

Snake Temple in Penang, Malaysia — Image credits: Google Images

The Tale of Snake Temple

The temple didn’t always have its name of Snake Temple. After the construction of the temple in Penang, the snakes came and started to take shelter in the temple. This led to the temple getting the name of “The Snake Temple”. During the 19th century, the temple was lying in middle of the jungle and thus was filled with snakes. But, Due to modern developments, All the forest areas surrounding the temple were cleared. This was the reason for the number of snakes to turn lower. In present days, it is said that the snakes are kept in a farm cage in the night and brought back to the temple in the subsequent morning. The temple can be easily identified from the Bayan Lepas airport in Penang due to its developed and modern infrastructure.

Inside the Snake Temple

Once you enter the temple, you can see a large flame burning which fills the main prayer hall with smoke. This incense acts as a tranquillizer, making the snakes behind them appear motionless and even asleep. You can also see the statues and carvings, a great place to take your Instagram pictures. Don’t forget to check out the huge bell in the main hall, brought from China during the Manchurian Dynasty in the 19th century. The bell rings on the 15th day of every month, according to the Chinese calendar, as an invitation for those departed to pray. Behind the temple, is the snake pool filled with fruit trees and if you have a closer look, you can see the snakes coiled around the branches of the tree and with each other.

A Snake in the Snake Temple in Penang, Malaysia — Image credits: Google Images

Details of the Temple

Timings: 06:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Address: 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Telephone: +604 643 72 73.
Price for the Temple: Free Entrance.
Price for Snake farm: MYR 5 for adults and MYR 3 for kids.
*MYR – Malaysian Ringgit

Hope you are ready to face off some venomous snakes and live to tell the story! Penang as so much to offer like this historic Snake Temple and it is yet another reason why you should add Penang to the list of places to visit on your next trip to Malaysia. Check out Pickyourtrail for some amazing travel deals on your Malaysia Tour Packages. Love to get your hands dirty? You can even customize your very own itinerary and we would help you have a hassle-free and stress-free vacation.

Happy Travelling!