Snake Temple in Penang Filled with Pit Vipers: Tourist Trap or Worth Visiting?

It was built 1850 in honor of a Chinese Buddhist monk who lived during the Song Dynasty. 

According to the legend, shortly after the temple was erected, pit vipers started taking shelter in the temple because their natural habitat—the jungle behind the temple—was being disturbed. Monks who stayed in the temple got tired of constantly removing the snakes and accepted their fate as the snake temple of Penang.

The temple is culturally significant for the Chinese community for their yearly flame watching ceremony called “Chneah Hoay”. Held on the sixth day of the Chinese New Year and is believed to predict the upcoming economic trend in Penang for the year.

Chinese New Year normally falls between the end of January and the end of February. So if you are traveling during that time, find out when the sixth day falls on that year’s Chinese New Year and make sure to visit. (I unfortunately missed by a month!)

Reading about these poisonous snakes that are within an arm’s reach really peaked my interest. How can they be so reckless? Just one bite and someone might die. Since I was staying in George Town for five nights, I had plenty of time to visit.

First Impressions of Snake Temple Penang

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Snake Temple, I was greeted by a building with very traditional Chinese architecture: curvy roof tiles, dragon ornaments decorating the tiles and incense burners symmetrically placed in the center, enhancing the temple’s atmosphere. Simply put, a great looking temple.

But before it, there’s a pre-entrance featuring a staircase with a snake motif, and a big red gate with the words “SNAKE TEMPLE”. This setup takes away a bit from the atmosphere and definitely earns a tick in the tourist trap column.

Still, the entrance is free, so can it still be a tourist trap or is it worth visiting?

Inside the Snake Temple Penang

The temple is divided into three main areas: a prayer room, a snake room, and a garden. In the past, snakes used to roam freely throughout the temple, but nowadays they’re placed in designated spots—likely for safety and tourism management.

In the prayer room, visitors can light incense and make offerings for a small fee. The snake room is, unsurprisingly, where the snakes are. You’ll see Wagler’s Pit Vipers lounging comfortably on artificial tree-like structures with twisted branches that mimic their natural habitat. Just a drop of venom from these snakes could be dangerous, even deadly. Although there are warning signs everywhere, I was told the snakes have been de-venomed. Their fangs remain intact, though.

There’s also a large yellow python you can pose with for a photo, for a fee. The price seemed flexible depending on how well you could negotiate—definitely another tick in the tourist trap column.

Outside, the garden features more snakes resting on tree branches, with signs again warning of their venom. I noticed all the snakes seem to be asleep and asked if they were sedated, but it turns out they’re nocturnal. They conserve energy during the day and stay motionless in shaded, camouflaged spots—blending in perfectly with the leaves and branches.

Getting There

The Snake Temple is located just 2 km from Penang International Airport, in the southeastern part of the island. For travelers with limited time, it’s a convenient stop either right after arrival or just before departure. That said, if you’re staying in George Town, expect about an hour’s drive to reach the temple.

Final Thoughts

I was excited to visit, since I enjoy the odd and unusual when traveling. I had imagined snakes crawling all over the temple grounds with visitors dodging their attacks. But in reality, they were mostly resting in the trees and asleep. Learning that they weren’t poisonous anymore was a bit of a letdown. However, from a liability standpoint and considering that the temple now caters to tourists, it makes perfect sense.

So, is it worth visiting?

As it didn’t quite meet my expectations, but mostly because I was imagining something out of an Indiana Jones movie—it was a bit of a letdown. However I was still glad I went.

If you’re a curious traveler who enjoys the stranger sights, you should definitely go—even if you’re afraid of snakes.

If you’ve already visited the Snake Temple in Penang, feel free to share your experience in the comments below—I’d love to hear what you thought!