Caves have been used for centuries by Hindus and Buddhists as places of worship, meditation, and retreat, especially in southeast Asia. In fact, the most diverse and vibrant ritual uses of caves anywhere in the world today is said to be the 200 kilometer corridor between Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh in Peninsular Malaysia, with the 40km area immediately north & south of Ipoh in the Kinta Valley having the highest concentration.

The two Ipoh area cave temples most mentioned in guide books are Sam Poh Tong (south) and the Perak Cave Temple (north), but there are more than 40 additional temples in the area. This journal features five of the six most established cave temples that are south of Ipoh in Gunung Rapat.

This is an excellent source of information on Ipoh area cave temples: http://www.cavesofmalaysia.com/photopage7.htm