The Bat Cave Temple (No 2 on Map) is a unique temple at the foot of Penang Hill, a short distance from the Jade Emperor's Pavilion (No 1 on map) and below the old Penang Hill quarry. I explored it in the company of an expatriate Mat Salleh who brought me there. Although I have heard of the temple before, this was the first time I visited it (yeah, there are many places in Penang I haven't visited yet, okay?) It is one of the many temples dedicated to the worship of Tua Pek Kong, the local god of prosperity. The average worshipper might not be able to tell you who Tua Pek Kong is, other than he worships the deity for well-being and prosperity. To trace the origin of Tua Pek Kong, refer to the Tanjong Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple, which is the mother temple of all Tua Pek Kong temples in the country.
It is not uncommon to see that the worship of a deity for material gains borders on gambling. In the case of the Bat Cave Temple, while the average local Chinese might not know its whereabouts, a good many who do know where it is and turned up to offer prayers are those who came seeking wins, whether on the race track or elsewhere. In fact, I was told that the expansion of the temple was a result of thanksgiving funds from those who won big. I am not sure how true this is, or perhaps they are from devotees who were blessed in more upright ways.
The temple is very old. A guidebook printed in the 1977, mentions that the temple was built a good sixty years ago, meaning it would have been built in 1917, if not earlier. The guidebook further stated that a hermit once used the bat cave for meditation, and that Buddhist monks guard the bats against human interference. I am not sure how true this would be, considering the temple is not a Buddhist temple, but a Tua Pek Kong temple, which is more closely related to local beliefs.
A different version of the legend tells of a feng shui master who reared a couple of white cranes. He chose to live in the cave with his two cranes. The feng shui master was the one who started the worship of Tua Pek Kong in the cave. Eventually, he passed away and subsequently so did his cranes. After he had died, bats began to take over the cave.
Getting there
Take Rapid Penang Bus U204 which goes to the Penang Hill Railway station. Check the Rapid Penang Bus Routes for details. From the bus stop, walk a short distance down the road till you reach a lane to your left with a big arch. The arch is for the Jade Emperor's Pavilion. Take that lane. A short distance up that lane, there is a right branch. It has a sign pointing the way to the Bat Cave Temple. Follow that branch and it takes you to the temple, which is about 50 meters from the sign.
What to see and do
The bats are the sole attraction of this temple. They hang from the ceiling of the cave like dry leaves. At first, you might not notice them for the darkness, but as your eyes get used to the dark, you will start to see them. Some times, the temple is kind enough to turn some lights on, but not too much as to scare the bats. The wall of the cave is black, so the temple people painted a line on the wall, to help prevent people from knocking their heads. It is almost impossible to take photos of the bats, as it is very dark in there.
Nearby Sights
The following are sights within the immediate vicinity or close by:
Kek Lok Si: Not actually close by, since you have to drive or take the bus there, but worth a visit if you have the time
Visiting Penang
If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!
Bat Cave Temple Photo Gallery
Bat Cave Temple (3 September 2008)
Front entrance of the Bat Cave Temple (3 September 2008)
The altar to Tua Pek Kong (3 September 2008)
Statue of the Auspicious Tortoise - rubbing it will rub some luck on you, so believed some (3 September 2008)
Bats inside the cave temple (3 September 2008)
Another shot of the bat on the wall (3 September 2008)
This is not an upside-down road, just a while line drawn on the wall, to prevent people bumping the heads onto it (3 September 2008)
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Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms.
