The Snake Temple
The Snake Temple, also known as the Temple of the Azure Cloud is probably one of its kind in the world.
Located at Sungai Kluang in Bayan Lepas near the Penang International Airport, the temple was built in 1850 in honour of a Buddhist monk Chor Soo Kong. Legend has it that this monk gave shelter to the snakes of the jungle when the temple was completed, thus the snakes have since then seek refuge there.
At the back of the temple is a snake pool which is filled with fruit trees instead of water. On closer examination you can see the snakes coiled around the branches of the trees.
Although poisonous, the snakes are not caged as they’ve not been known to bite. Devotees regard the snakes as holy and harmless. However in recent years, the rapid development around this area has caused the number of snakes to dwindle.
Snakes are now mostly kept in glass tanks to keep them from slithering out from the temple compound as what was once their natural habitat is now a concrete forest.
Every year thousands of tourist throng this temple as it is one the must see when you visit Penang island. If you are game enough and want to have your photo taken with snakes coiled on your arms or draped around your neck, there are photographers available to take your pictures for you.
At the back of the temple, there’s also an altar of the Goddess of Mercy where devotees can perform their prayers.