Malaysia Peninsular Caves, Perak, Kek Lok Tong 马来西亚半岛，霹雳州属，极乐洞

Malaysia Peninsular Caves, Perak, Kek Lok Tong 

马来西亚半岛，霹雳州属，极乐洞

Opened in the 1970s, Kek Lok Tong is the most recent of the Ipoh cave temples and perhaps the most spectacular of them all. The temple is set in a huge cave in the limestone outcrops behind Gunung Rapat. The temple has impressive works of art, with statues of Buddha in various forms among natural stalactites and rock formations. One can savour vegetarian food, served here at the temple, in peaceful surroundings amidst lotus ponds.

The easiest route to the temple is through the Sungai Rokam housing area, where you just follow signs leading directly to the site. Alternatively, the longer route via picturesque Tambun district will take you for a trip through groves of pomeloes farm and abandoned tin mines. Located in Gunung Rapat near the Sam Poh Tong, about 5 km south of Ipoh City.

The cave temple sits on a 12 acre site and was used as early as 1920 as a place of worship. In 1960, the cave became part of an iron mining site operated by the late Mr. Chooi Ah Kee. The mining operation used excavators to enlarge the cave entrance to allow lorry access through the cave to transport loads laden with iron ore. Mr. Chooi started clean up of a small prayer section of the cave, originally named 'Tien Hou Gong'.

In 1982, 'Tien Hou Gong' was handed over by the son of Mr. Chooi to a non-profit charitable organization, Kek Look Seah and the cave temple was renamed 'Kek Look Tong'. The committee of Kek Look Seah took on development of the cave by enlarging the cave, as well as reclaiming the swampy area near the rear entrance using soil and earth from a nearby hillock. The floor of the cave has been filled and then paved into a flat surface while parts of the rough cave wall are lined with marble tiling. The impressive stalactites and stalagmite formations however were left alone.

Recognizing that the shape of the cave resembles a carp, renovations to develop the cave have been done mindful of this theme. The front entrance of the cave is likened to the head of the dragon carp, its mouth open to the heavens. The stairs leading downwards to the rear cave entrance symbolizes the throat of the carp, the cavernous back entrance the belly of the fish.

There are even gill-like limestone formations on both sides of the "head" and a curious evergreen hanging rock formation, covered with moss, at the hind cavern that resembles the gallbladder. And finally, the pronged flight of stairs that descent unto the car park and pond was specifically made to resemble the tail of a carp.

Today, the reclaimed area around the rear cave entrance is host to a beautiful garden as well as a large car park for the convenience of visitors. The area is under continuous landscaping projects such as a pond filled with carp and an artificial waterfall.

Kek Look Tong is a unique and fascinating place not to be missed.

位于昆仑喇叭的极乐洞，是怡保极乐社慈善机构管理的岩洞，也是怡保旅游景点之一。

极乐洞占地12英亩，自1920年就开辟成为膜拜的地方。内设有华严法界、三清法界等朝拜场所，岩洞内四壁悬挂着自然形成的石钟乳和石灰岩地貌，有些看似大象、蟾蜍等动物，也有看似太子拜孝、文王拉车等拟人景点。

穿过极乐洞，是极乐洞的后花园，这是微风徐徐，是听泉纳凉的好地方。

洞口处原有3间佛殿，现已只剩遗迹。宽大的洞口砌有石墙，洞内有残存的佛殿，门窗均用石材雕刻而成，至今仍十分坚固。

洞内高约3、4米，面积约80至90平方米，内有水井，洞处还有两眼人工开凿的储水井，洞口南侧崖壁上有一处摩崖碑刻，高2.4米，宽0.9米，为明万历年间极乐洞住持明信和尚撰文，记述了当年极乐洞修建佛殿的情况，碑刻左侧有民国时期的摩崖刻字“登峰造极”四个打字，还有一些文人墨客所留下的诗文，赞赏这里是真正的仙境。

此外，这里也曾成为本地电影《近打1881》取景的地方，这部电影是于2007年5月3日开拍，由导演何志良执导、钱嘉乐为武术指导，演员阵容包括两届世界武术赛冠军何诺槟、7届全国武术赛冠军李绍杰、2004年世界精武嘉年华会6金1银得主管辉骏、2004年世界精武嘉年华会6金2银得主陈逸豪，以及来自中国2006年世界太极拳大赛金牌暴垠宏。

未曾到访过极乐洞的朋友，可趁着周末或是假日到此一游，亲身感受极乐洞的天然景色。

Planning your Malaysia‘s Caving Exploration with Cheng Pai Voyage 

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