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

Myanmar - Haisin Cave, Hpa An, Kayin state

Haisin Cave is next to Saddan Cave, southeast of Hpa An, in Kayin state in southern Myanmar.

We walked through Saddan Cave then across some fields to reach Haisin. Haisin means tuskless elephant.

Where to cross?

Haisin entrance.

There are some nice formations in the cave

There is also some cave fauna, such as huntsmen spiders and crickets

and a gecko

See more on Haisin Cave.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Myanmar - Saddan Cave, Hpa An, Kayin state

I joined a small caving expedition to Myanmar in Jan 2009. This led to the development of Caves of Myanmar website.

We were caving in the southern part of Myanmar. We started in Kayin state, staying in Hpa An town. End of Jan is dry season. Every day there was quite a bad haze, so this spoilt a lot of photos.

This album shows Saddan Cave which is southeast of Hpa An. Saddan is a well known temple cave.

The hill and the entrance to Saddan Cave can be seen below

Saddan is the name of an elephant. Elephants are important to Buddhists and there are stone elephants at the bottom of the steps leading up to the cave.

As in all Buddhist temples in Myanmar, you have to remove your shoes at the start of the temple compound, unlike places like Thailand where you just go barefoot in the inner temple. The Burmese don't seem to worry about dirty feet when stepping onto the praying areas.

The entrance chamber - and cave snakes

and a disproportionate Buddha watches us survey

reclining Buddha

Stalagmite
There are lots of Buddhas along the wall and tablets decorating the walls

Steps lead up from the entrance chamber to the main cave passage. There is quite a lot of cave fauna, such as whip spiders and huntsmen spiders

There is also graffiti

At the end of the main passage is a large stal which was illuminated by a sunbeam

There is a small altar with a white Buddha

and a Buddha or monk with tilted head

The view from the back entrance is nice

From the back entrance of Saddan Cave we walked over to Haisin Cave. There is a lake close to Saddan,

See more on Saddan Cave.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission