Ratheepyan Cave

Ratheepyan Cave

The Ratheepyan Cave is in Barr Kap Village near Than Lwin Bridge three miles far away from Hpa-an. The Ratheepyan Village is situated a mile to the south of Barr Kap Village, and Ratheepyan Mountain and Ratheepyan Cave are situated to the west of this village. The Ratheepyan Mountain is running from south to north and has 1,500 feet. A natural cave is available in a height of 150 feet at the foot of the mountain. That cave has an entrance and exit which can go through. The entrance of this cave is 75 feet wide and 150 feet wide inside the cave.

The votive tablets of 3″ to 4″ height and Buddha images of 5 to 6 feet height were put against the wall inside the cave and on the cliff outside the cave. The ruined votive tablets were renovated by archaeological and national museum department. A stone motor where the hermit grinded is available below the right side of seven Buddha images in the entrance of northern side of cave. The pilgrims touched this stone motor because they believed that by touching this stone motor and their suffering parts in their bodies will soon recover their diseases and sufferings.

Moreover, a stone chair and a stone plate grinded for medicinal herbs which was turned over by the hermit were found. In the center of this stone plate, a 4″ depth concave is available which was believed to be grinded part by the hermit. Just as stone motor in the entrance of the cave, the pilgrims touched it. A stone plate where the hermit mediated, a hold which penetrated this Ratheepyan Mountain and a stone motor and a turned over stone plate for grinding are available in this cave. A stone flat cave is found behind the large pagoda in the center of cave. A hole on the roof of cave which was said to be a hole from which the hermit went through is situated above the pagoda.

Thus, the Ratheepyan Cave is famous because it is said to be a cave where a hermit attained power and he went up to the sky by penetrating the mountain. The pagoda festival of this cave is annually held during water festival. Since the Ministry of Culture is responsible to preserve and conserve ancient cultural heritage sites and to prevent deteriorating conditions of religious edifices, it has been conducting to demarcate as Ancient Monumental Zone and Protected and Preserved Zone in order to protect ancient cultural heritage in this cave.