No, it’s not a zoo. The snakes are everywhere and not kept in any enclosures. One glance at the triangular head, you know they are venomous snakes. Those are pit vipers. Wagler’s pit vipers.
So where on earth is this place? You are now on an island, somewhere in Penang, Malaysia… …
You are in a 159 year-old temple with many snakes waiting to be discovered. They may appear docile, but don’t you dare to touch them. Beware of their fangs!
The Snake Temple 蛇庙, aka Temple of Azure Cloud (not exactly, with that grey overcast sky) was originally built in 1850 and is one of the oldest temples in the world. Some say that, perhaps, it’s the only temple of its kind in the world… er…is it because of the many snakes residing within the temple??
The Snake Temple decorated with intricate designs.
The devotees believe that the snakes came to temple on their own accord. However, due to the urbanization of the area that could have disturbed the natural habitat of the snakes, it’s probably why there aren’t many snakes in the temple now and snakes don’t crawl in and out of the temple anymore ‘cos the jungle was gone.
The notice states that all are live snakes but visitors are requested not to prod or harm the snakes as THEY may be injured. What? I thought we could be injured instead but it seems to be the other way round. Oh man those vipers have fangs!
These motionless temple vipers are believed to be paralyzed by the smoke of the burning incense in the temple and so far, it’s said that no one has been bitten by any of the snakes before. Some say the poisonous snakes have been de-venomed but the fangs are still intact. However, some say that the snakes are still venomous. So, just be careful while you are standing near these fellows.
Zzzzz… A sleeping viper. I dare you wake it up!
Finally, after the “snake teasers”, you can proceed to drape a snake around you at this booth for photo-taking at a fee. I never try this before and I don’t think I want to do that!
Location of the Snake Temple: Sungai Kluang, Bayan Lepas (near the airport) in Penang, Malaysia.
Opening hours: 6am to 7pm daily. Free admission.
admission FREE? cool!! wow… i like 4th picture… got HDR effect there and the composition with the dog is just nice… well done! 🙂
will drop by snake temple someday… hopefully i wont get bites from them :p
I visited Penang when I was a young child, I did not know that there is a snake temple there, thus its great to know now!
I have never touch a snake before but fancy one in near future
SNAKE!!!! It’s been so long since I went to the Snake Temple.
Nice photos! 😀
im starting to love penang. my brother once went there and it’s indeed a nice place and now i get to see a different side of penang through your blog.
@henry: ya admission is free, just like many other temples. A plus point is you can take as many photos as you wish, unlike some temples that don’t allow photo-taking inside.
@SSS: Same here, I just knew that there is such a interesting snake temple on Penang island even though I’ve been to Penang many times before.
@Borneo Falcon: Oh I touched one at Sentosa! It’s just like the texture of snake skin wallet =P
@Mike Yip: Oh u been there before? Cool.
@dongho: yeah it’s a nice getaway, with good food n attractions.
Hi eunice, nice post. Just out of curiosity, do they eat snakes in Singapore?
@Lavern: hello! ya in Singapore, there are snake wines too, but it’s not common to eat snakes here.
What are those two guys doing with the photo? Protesting?
@Asit: I think they are photographers, offering photography services to visitors who want to snap a photo with the snakes at the counter.
The only places in Penang i do NOT like, is this place: Snake Temple
Because i hate snakes, hahahaha~ dun dare to get closer to them 🙁
just looking at them gives me goosebumps. looks creepy but they are interesting animals.
Marly
@Anston: HAHA it’s interesting that we can observe such venomous snakes at close range without any enclosures! But come and think about it, who knows they might go berserk and attack anyone. 😛
@Marly: they hardly move at all.
Ahhh, my favourite subject and place. I am always fascinated with snakes. I have caught some. Pit vipers bite can be very painful even after one is cured because the venom destroy our tissues and the bite area can turned gangrened. Therefor torniquet should not be applied for pit vipers bite….restriction of bloodflow will increase chances of the bite area turning gangrene!
Love the beautiful snakes and their fangs!
@peteformation: Huh?! You caught snakes??? And u got bitten before? Oh I think I got what you mean. I saw on TV that people tried to stop the poison from flowing in the bloodstream by tying cloth around the bitten area but this can cause the restriction of bloodflow that will increase the chance of gangrene. Awww
@sada: you love their fangs??? how about Dracula’s fangs? :- [ <----- fangs for you LOL
OMG–that’s a scary temple. I might not even dare enter it for I’m really scared of snakes…I noticed though that you are into snake Eunice–is that true?
that’s interesting and unusual to find in a temple. I’ve been to penang to represent the philippines in a tennis tournnament more than 10 years ago I enjoyed the place. thanks for sharing eunice 🙂
So exotic to a Norwegian you know!
I think I’ve told you before: I’ve been to Malaysia, but only in Kuala Lumpur.
Happy Weekend 🙂
Sounds a very uncomfortable place to visit. I’d be nervy the whole time I was in the temple and temples should be such relaxing and spiritual places. I think there is a temple (not been there either) in India full of rats that would be somewhat disturbing too!!
@Antonio: Don’t worry. It’s safe in there. The snakes are very docile and hardly move at all. So far, no one has ever bitten by snakes in the temple. 🙂
@pinoyislands: wow u must be a great tennis player! Cool!
@RennyBA: Ha! It is a mind-boggling temple to me too!
@Mark H: The snakes appeared to be motionless when we were there. They coiled around the twigs at the altar. So far no one has been bitten by snakes in the temple. The temple is a refuge for the snakes and devotees regard them as `holy and harmless’.
That’s impressive, but I am not sure if I would be brave enough to visit this place. I am afraid of sakes.