The Sadan Caves

The Sadan Caves

If you are in the area one thing that is an absolute must is the Sadan Caves. There are lots of caves around with any number of buddhas in them but this one is on another level. The Sadan Cave are seventeen miles from Hpa-An so we chose a taxi for this journey where as everything else is reachable by tuk tuk. Things to bring with you include a torch and a good pair of shoes.

We were treated at the entrance to the cave by this handsome pair. This lovely monk was very chuffed to have his photo taken and very proud of the cave. We were given a small packet of mud (at least I think thats what it is!) which apparently contains healing properties, unfortunately the instructions that come with it are not in English so I have no idea what to do with it.

To enter the cave you need to remove your shoes as you do everywhere in South East Asia but TAKE THEM WITH YOU! you will need them for a good ten minute walk back by the river as this is a round trip and you won’t come back the way you came from. The first part of the cave is full of colourful statues and a couple of pagodas and a changing colour skinny Buddha light show! Scroll down to see the film…

  

 

Along with the gaudy Disney land areas there are some very beautiful areas to including some tiny buddhas, similar to the previous cave, that have been carved/cast and attached to the walls and ceiling. From a distance they look just like a pattern created from different size shapes but when you look closely each and every shape is actually a tiny Buddha.

To the left of this giant sleeping Buddha are some stairs that lead into the next part of the cave. This part is where you need a torch or I just used the light on my phone but obviously you would need to make sure it is fully charged up. It will take up to about fifteen minutes to make your way through this area being careful not to slip as some of the surfaces are wet. The surroundings are breathtaking. At points the space brings to mind medieval cathedrals with amazing ceilings and incredible surface textures and patterns as well as voluminous structures created over thousands of years from the calcium deposits that seep out of the limestone rock. Many bats inhabit the heart of the cave so be aware of bat droppings all over some of it.

 

Finally you see the light in the distance and the space is flooded with light coming in through a number of openings.

Until finally you are presented with an oasis of lush green foliage and a crystal blue lake all framed by the rich warm coloured stone. It almost feels like you have travelled to another dimension or you have embodied an intrepid explorer through an unknown world to end up in nirvana.

Here there is a small cafe to buy a drink from and a group of boat men relaxing in the sun until someone needs the use of a boat. The boat part is essential I would say and certainly better than another fifteen minute walk back through the caves. I will leave the details of the boat trip for the next post otherwise this post will end up feeling more like a novel!

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