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Thailand's Tiger Temple
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It’s one of those tourist adventures that will give you memories that will last a lifetime – visiting what has become known as the Tiger Temple of Thailand. This amazing location, tucked in the mountains three hours from Bangkok allows visitors the chance to walk among -- and even touch-- tigers.
Watpa Luanga Bua Yannasampanno opened its Tiger Conservation Project to visitors in April 2004. Word was slow to get out and because of its remote location, the numbers of visitors is still relatively low. But the opportunity to get up close and personal with these massive cats is helping change things. A visit here allows you access to these amazing creatures like few could imagine.
The temple was originally built just more than a decade ago in the forests near the River Kwai as a haven for Buddhists practicing meditation. But its focus quickly changed as almost immediately became known as a place where the locals could come bring sick, injured or orphaned animals.
In 1999, a sick tiger cub was brought in to join the assortment of wild boars, birds, deer and gibbons and soon, other tiger orphans began showing up. The monks had to learn how to handle these potentially dangerous additions. But by hand raising them and keeping them in the tranquil setting of the monastery, a connection has been established between the animals and their caretakers.
The temple grounds are 12 acres of park like land, but most visitors bypass the scenic areas to go immediately to the Tiger Canyon. There you find both adult tigers and cubs lounging around or playing under the watchful eye of the monastery’s abbot. For a small donation (of your own choosing), monks will take you by the hand and lead into the haven to walk among and even sit with the tigers.
Just hand your camera or video recorder to one of the helpers and they will gladly help document your experience. And no worries, they’ve had plenty of experience and seem to know instinctively how to get the best angles. The tigers seem used to all the activity and generally acknowledge their guests presence with a flick of the tail or a twitch of an ear.
Dressed in saffron colored robes which match the tigers, the abbot monitors his charges for any sign that they’ve had enough or in our case, that they needed to stretch and wrestle a bit. These activities of course make for even more photo opportunities for visitors. You can stay as long as you want and if there is no one waiting, the monks will lead you back among the beasts for more encounters.
There are 17 tigers at the preserve. Seven were brought in as orphans and the rest have been bred at the temple. They are only out in their canyon from 1 pm to 4 pm each day, so once you’ve had your chance to visit with them, you can explore the rest of the serene wooded grounds and meet the other creatures who call the temple home. Entry to the Temple is 300 baht but to have your photo taken, its about 1000 baht or about $28.
For more info:
Watpa Luanga Bua Yannasampanno
69 Mu.5 Tambon Sing
Amphor Saiyok
Karnchanaburi
71150
Phone: 66 34 531 557
From
From Kanchanaburi Bus Station: take 8302 bus to Sai Yok and walk 1.5 km or take a taxi for about 20Baht ($.50)
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