Gua Charas is a cave temple near Panching village, hidden in a palm oil plantation about 25km west of Kuantan. A limestone masiff that towers around 300 meters high, the hill has a large cave chamber accessible by steps from the foot below. Inside, a reclining Buddha statue is housed at the end of a large rib cage-like passageway, along with smaller altars placed at random recesses along the walls.
Lit by lamps, interesting limestone formations can be viewed along the statues, the ground wet at some parts from dripping water, a natural feature of such landscapes. Open daily from 9am till 5pm, small ticket and parking fees are charged on visitors. It is recommended to visit during noon when sunlight enters the cave for nice photo effects.
