Myanmar - Kaw Gon archaeological Cave

Kaw Gon (Kawgoon) Cave near Hpa An in Kayin state in south Myanmar is a well known Buddhist archaeological site. It is also known as Cave of the Ten Thousand Buddhas. It is located near the Salween River.

There is an entry fee of $3 for foreigners.

A rock shelter leads to a cave chamber, and the walls of the cliff are covered in clay tablets and other Buddha relics, dating back to the 7th century.

Some of these tablets are high on the cliff face.

There are reclining Buddhas in the cave chamber

and also another one in a separate outer building outside.

Local tourists

A cement factory has been accused of destroying antiquities at this cave.

See Kaw Gon on my Caves of Myanmar site.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

3 comments:

1. 
   Yeshe Liew24 February 2009 15:33

   That is interesting. I notice many temples are made in limestone caves all over asia.

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Kwai Loh Stuivenberg24 February 2009 15:55

   Fascinating cave and carvings!

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Liz Price24 February 2009 16:06

   Yes its very common to use caves in Asia as temples. Even the famous Lourdes grotto in France is a Christian 'cave' site.

Myanmar - Kaw Ka Taung Cave, Hpa An, Kayin

This is a small Buddhist temple outside Hpa An, in Kayin state, southern Myanmar. As usual with Burmese names, the spelling varies according to the phonetics.

As with other temples, this cave has a line of stone monks outside.

The main entrance

nat with bull

row of Buddhas inside, and the main altars

Tablets on the wall

and a tortoise on the floor.

I was amused when a group came in and the resident monk played a tape of Christmas songs - quite incongruous in a Buddhist temple.

The cave is very short. A low passage leads to an end chamber

Outside is another monk with tilted head. In the grounds are other statues,

From Kaw Ka Taung, we went a few hundred metres along the cliff, following the stone monks,

and came to Padamyar or Ruby Cave. This was only " found" about 2002 and is still being developed.

Inside a large chamber contains a large seated Buddha but the chamber was full of dust and not good for photos. There is some chert in this cave.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

4 comments:

1. 
   Yeshe Liew15 February 2009 21:54

   Liz, many buddhists praise your posting on the world largest inclining Buddha. If possible I like to ask your permission to link this also. If OK please don't forget to un-save for everyone to view. A good buddhist practices open mindedness and christmas song is interesting and enjoyable.

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Liz Price15 February 2009 22:14

   Thanks for the comments. Yes you may link to this one as well, its already available to everyone and not restricted. Thanks for asking permission.

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   Yeshe Liew16 February 2009 18:31

   Thanks liz I am sure they will be delighted

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   deb thegardener16 February 2009 20:20

   thank you so much for sharing your wonderful pictures with Buddhist Travelers.
   namaste

   ReplyDelete

Limestone hills around Hpa An, Kayin State, south Myanmar

Hpa An is the capital of Kayin state in southern Myanmar. Many parts of Myanmar are still off limits to foreigners, and although it is possible for tourists to go to Hpa An, very few do. It is a reasonably quiet town, with no high rise buildings and not much traffic. It has a rural feel as ox carts and trucks laden with vegetables mix with an assortment of other vehicles of all ages and states of dilapidation.

Hpa An lies on the banks of the Salween River (known as Thanlwin in the Shan state).

There are stunning (but sometimes hazy) views across to the imposing limestone mountain which is topped by a chedi.

There are several limestone hills in the area and each one has at least one chedi on top and usually a few more on the lower slopes.

The Hpa An area is dominated by Mt. Zwegabin, 722m high, and an impressive long karst ridge.

Zwegabin is considered a sacred hill, and as with most hills in the area has many chedis and shrines and a pathway up to the top. See more on Zwegabin.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission