Saddar Cave
A bit of an adventure
Published/Last edited or updated: 24th June, 2016
More on Hpa-an
A visit to wonderful Saddar Cave is one of Kayin State’s highlights. The limestone karst scenery of Zwegabin and the numerous jagged, mountainous outcrops sprouting abruptly from the paddy surrounding Hpa-an host myriad spectacular caves. Saddar (sometimes written Saddan) involves a cave temple but also a hike through underground passages to the far side of a mountain and a return by wooden boat. It really is something special.
Travelfish says:
The entrance to Saddar Cave is reached via a few kilometres of dirt track off the main Hpa-an to Mawlamyine highway. It’s at the foot of a short flight of steps on the southwest side of the mountain. You’ll find an impressive natural entrance chamber filled with various statues perched above stalactites, stupas, a large reclining Buddha plus pretty gold-painted stucco designs on the cavern walls.
While you have to take off your shoes before entering this religious site, you’ll need to carry them with you since you’ll be exiting by a different route. Heading towards the rear of the first cave — to the left of the reclining Buddha — an underground passage continues on through the heart of the mountain. Electric lighting is provided once you’ve made a request and a donation of 1,000 kyat per person to the monks at the cave entrance.
Once you are past the principal cave temple it’s okay to put your shoes back on since you’ll be walking several hundred metres through the mountain on a surface varying between concrete steps, rocks, sand and several inches of bat poo. The path leads up and down somewhat but is generally pretty easy. The steepest parts have steps, though they can occasionally be slippery, and be warned that the stink of guano can be powerful. After a 15-minute walk you’ll emerge into a stunning scene on the far east side of the mountain as the tunnel exit opens up to reveal a picturesque tree-lined pool.
There’s a small drinks stand by the pool so you can stop for a break before continuing on by one of the waiting wooden boats. Villagers will punt you across the pool into another, this time water-filled, tunnel on the far side.
The scenery is reminiscent of what you’ll find in Thailand’s Krabi or Trang, though the water here is fresh not salt, and you’ll be paddled around by a Karen farmer in a basic wooden boat rather than a state of the art kayak.
The short, low tunnel opens up into a second pool before your punting boatman takes you down narrow channels dug through the paddy-fields to a boat landing at the foot of limestone cliffs. On our last visit the boat pilots were charging 5,000 kyat per boat, which seats two or three people. If you’re on your own wait for two more passengers.
The slow, tranquil boat trip through the paddy with the spectacular limestone backdrop is short but very sweet and after a few delightful minutes you’ll disembark at a crude wooden jetty to continue the circumnavigation of the mountain on foot. It’s a 10-minute or so walk back to your starting point.
If you rushed you could do the whole round trip in an hour or so, but lingering a little means you can do it in 90 minutes. It’s almost over too soon for such a great trip. There are plenty of snacks and drinks stalls in the dirt carpark for pre- or post-cave refreshments.
The cave is at the far end of Zwegabin, furthest from town, but still only a 20- or 30-minute drive. Either hire some transport of your own in town or check to see if Soe Brothers are running any tours. Note that we’ve done this trip at several times of the year and there should be enough water in all but the very driest periods.
Reviewed by
Mark Ord
Based in Chiang Mai, Mark Ord has been travelling Southeast Asia for over two decades and first crossed paths with Travelfish on Ko Lipe in the early 1990s.
