Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery
Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery
3.5
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Better known as the Jumping Cats Monastery for its cats trained to jump through hoops.
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3.5
343 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
145
Average
116
Poor
16
Terrible
4
Lynkster
Australia248 contributions
Dec 2019
A popular spot for tourists - definitely because of the cats that roam very calmly around the monastery, tolerating pats from tourists, and sometimes climbing into one's lap. The monastery also houses very interesting artworks of Buddhist iconography, highly elaborate pieces that are built in Shan-style rather than the usual Burmese style. Three main statues are actually gilded bamboo statues. While you could do a loop around the area in a short while (it is a medium-sized complex), you'll most likely stay to photography and pet the cats, who are very congenial and serene.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MidlandsTraveller
Leicester, UK684 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Worth a visit even if you have been to a lot of religious sites. Built of teak and housing a museum of shrines. As the old kingdoms fell with the unification of Burma shrines and statues were moved into this monastery.
There is unfortunately no information given.
Still an active place of worship with local pilgrims bringing offerings for the monks.
Good views over the floating gardens.
There are still a few cats, but the monk who used to train them to jump died, so they are not really a feature now.
There is unfortunately no information given.
Still an active place of worship with local pilgrims bringing offerings for the monks.
Good views over the floating gardens.
There are still a few cats, but the monk who used to train them to jump died, so they are not really a feature now.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Wandering Reviewer
Melbourne, Australia12,175 contributions
Sept 2015 • Solo
Although the name 'Jumping Cat Monastery' sounds interesting - it's not really. Fortunately the monks no longer train the cats to jump. Thankfully.
There were only a few cats, not too mangy looking and friendly - kittens really. They looked well fed and friendly but I'm always cautious around cats and dogs when I travel.
The Monastery has little to see more than what you have probably already seen but it's worthwhile stopping and talking to the monk that resides there.
A few stalls selling local wares are also available to peruse through. Otherwise, this is a quick stop.
There were only a few cats, not too mangy looking and friendly - kittens really. They looked well fed and friendly but I'm always cautious around cats and dogs when I travel.
The Monastery has little to see more than what you have probably already seen but it's worthwhile stopping and talking to the monk that resides there.
A few stalls selling local wares are also available to peruse through. Otherwise, this is a quick stop.
Written 4 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peggy T
Chongqing, China1,152 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
According to our local guide the old monk from the monastery use to train and get the cats to jump through the hoop. Indeed there are many cats there. They are tamed and curious and do not mind people stroking them. There are also numerous desiged alters there. And some local shops selling handicraft, etc.
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
arvind1000
Pune, India2,705 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
This was once famous as the “Jumping cats monastery “. However, on our visit we saw only one cat, and no it didn’t jump. The monastery is very beautiful with lovely wood carvings and wonderful wooden meditation hall
Written 4 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dingo_6152
Fremantle, Australia3,380 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Commonly known as the Jumping Cat Monastery, this Teak structure is located on stilts on the western side of the lake. The huge wooden meditation hall has an impressive collection of Buddha images and statues in a variety of styles, many of which were brought here for safe keeping during World War 2 but never collected. This is a working monastery so you’ll see the occasional monk and novices wandering around or studying the scriptures. There are a few cats, mostly lazily lying around the grounds - certainly not leaping through hoops on command. The monastery is quiet and meditative.
Written 27 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raelene H
Melbourne, Australia1,499 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We didn't put this on our list of places we wanted to see because we had read it had once been known as the Jumping Cat Monastery and thought it would be a bit of a tourist trap. However, we hired a guide and boat for the day and he advised that as we were passing we should stop. We would have missed a wonderful building if we hadn't taken his advice. Forget the cats - there are a few cats and kittens, like most temples, and they are cute but it is the Buddha images, timber structure, amazing pillars and ceiling. There is a lot to appreciate, take your time and I'm sure the magnificence of the statues and artifacts will impress.
Written 27 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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london97 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
It's heartbreaking for 2 reasons:
- the area is filled with some of the most beautiful and spectacular buddhas you'll see anywhere. I'd use a long list of epithets here, but trust me, I've seen a lot of Buddhas and it's worth it. However, many are covered in dust and dirt and cobwebs and a few are seriously damaged (happens all too often in Burma). It just seems nobody has even dusted them in years.
- the cats are in a horrible state and most of them can barely gather the strength to walk, let alone perform the idiotic tourist-trap-trick of jumping through a hoop when a lady prods them for long enough. They are really dirty, scraggy, skinny and clearly starving.
I was undecided about donating: on the one hand the area is poor and they really need the money, which could be invested in making it an outstanding attraction; on the other hand, so far they haven't bothered to dust the statues or feed the cats, when these are clearly the only 2 reasons for visitors to come.
- the area is filled with some of the most beautiful and spectacular buddhas you'll see anywhere. I'd use a long list of epithets here, but trust me, I've seen a lot of Buddhas and it's worth it. However, many are covered in dust and dirt and cobwebs and a few are seriously damaged (happens all too often in Burma). It just seems nobody has even dusted them in years.
- the cats are in a horrible state and most of them can barely gather the strength to walk, let alone perform the idiotic tourist-trap-trick of jumping through a hoop when a lady prods them for long enough. They are really dirty, scraggy, skinny and clearly starving.
I was undecided about donating: on the one hand the area is poor and they really need the money, which could be invested in making it an outstanding attraction; on the other hand, so far they haven't bothered to dust the statues or feed the cats, when these are clearly the only 2 reasons for visitors to come.
Written 23 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
intrepidpam
Carleton Place, Canada345 contributions
Jul 2011 • Couples
We visited the monastery with high hopes - I was charmed by the idea of monks training cats. The reality was a disappointment. We walked through the attractive wooden monastery, finally encountering a small group of cats on an outdoor balcony. The cats were cute but unremarkable except for having very large ears. Walking back inside the monastery, we eventually encountered a monk sitting in a large armchair reading a magazine under a sign saying "If you wish to see the jumping cats, please make a donation to their food". I did so into the well-placed jar next to the monk, and the monk rang a small bell and went back to reading his magazine with no further notice of us. A young woman appeared (not a nun, just a woman in normal dress who probably worked there). She called out to cats, none of whom appeared. So she began shaking her jar of kitty kibble. That got action and about six cats appeared. This is hardly trained cat behaviour - is there any cat owner whose cat does NOT come at the sound of the kibbles shaking or can opener going?! What followed was a disappointment too. Only one cat could be induced to jump and it would make a hop of about a foot into the air and she would feed the hoop over its body as it did so. Not very impressive. The other cats could not be induced to jump and she would feed the little hoop under their feet as they walked. Maybe all of the star cat actors have died of old age, or were sleeping elsewhere in the monastery? I don't know, but this was a let-down compared to what I was expecting. Everything else in Burma exceeded my expectations - this seemed like a money grab to me.
Another tip - there are stands selling souvenirs behind the monastery. This is the only place in all of Burma where we encountered hard-sell tactics of people following you, yelling at you ("Lady! Lady! Come here now!"), trying to shove items under your nose etc. Though we did get some things we wanted, it was very tiring and stressful, not like other shopping experiences in Burma where the vendors are polite and mannerly.
Another tip - there are stands selling souvenirs behind the monastery. This is the only place in all of Burma where we encountered hard-sell tactics of people following you, yelling at you ("Lady! Lady! Come here now!"), trying to shove items under your nose etc. Though we did get some things we wanted, it was very tiring and stressful, not like other shopping experiences in Burma where the vendors are polite and mannerly.
Written 29 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quick Stopover
Auckland, New Zealand83 contributions
Jan 2020
The wonderful teak wood is beautifully displayed and carved and enhanced. The Buddhas here are again an inspiration with a story.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My daughter got a small bleeding scratch by one of the cats and we are now concerned about the rabies risk. Has anyone heard about rabies among the cats at this monastery? Or in general in Burma and can offer an advise on how best to react?
Written 11 October 2017
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