Tham Luang Pha Wiang - LP0001
18.221352,98.859595
Location
East of the H106 between Lamphun and amphoe Li, the cave is in Doi Tham Luang near Ban Wang Luang. 15 km south of Ban Hong, at 47Q 482692 2104647 turn onto a surfaced road (sign posted) past the mining site to a car park at the base of a limestone hill 2.8 km from the main road. A 10 minute climb up a flight of steps leads to the cave entrance.
Description
This is the largest of a series of caves to the south of Ban Hong. A steep flight of steps leads up through deciduous/bamboo forest to the edge of a collapsed doline 50 m across and divided by a magnificent natural arch. A concrete pathway leads down through the imposing cave entrance to a series of sparsely decorated chambers. After 150 m a short detour leads to an upper level gallery with a good view of the rest of the cavern. The main path skirts around a fine group of active stalactites and stalagmites to a point where the passage suddenly narrows and takes an unexpected U-turn before entering another sizeable chamber with a large colony of bats and an unpleasant atmosphere. The main passage is said to carry on for a considerable distance beyond.
Topographie
SMCC 2016-10-03 Grade UISv2 6-3-EF Ellis, Martin (2018)
Fauna
Plusioglyphiulus erawan Golovatch, Geoffroy, Mauries et VandenSpiegel, 2011 (Arthropoda, Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Cambalopsidae) (Golovatch et al. 2011) Orthriophis taeniurus (Cope 1861) (Chordata, Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae) (unpublished record)
Documents
[Topo] Tham Luang Pha Wiang 05/05/2019Bibliography 27/03/2020
- +DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 ***Ellis, Martin (2018) "Some caves in Thailand Part 5" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 13 No. 7 pp299-323 +GOLOVATCH, SERGEI I; GEOFFROY, JEAN-JACQUES; MAURI+S, JEAN-PAUL; SPIEGEL, DIDIER VAN DEN (2011) "The millipede genus Plusioglyphiulus Silvestri, 1923 in Thailand (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Cambalopsidae)" Zootaxa Monograph 2940 63pp +SIDISUNTHORN, PINDAR; GARDNER, SIMON; SMART, DEAN (2006) "Caves of Northern Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135 +VOGT, NILS B. (2013) "Temple Caves & Grottoes in Thailand: A Picture-Guide Book" Booksmango, Bangkok ISBN 978-616-222-160-6 214pp
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | Tham Kruba Khao Phi - LP0032 | ||
| 11.8 | Tham Erawan [LP0012] | 325 | 13 |
| 15.1 | Tham Thip Nimit Ra - LP0013 | 75 | 0 |
| 15.9 | Cave TML4 [LP0047] | ||
| 15.9 | Tham Toh Nam [LP0039] | 200 | 0 |
| 16.7 | Tham Pha Daeng [LP0043] | ||
| 17.0 | Tham Ma Fa [LP0044] | 100 | 0 |
| 19.3 | Tham Shan Sam Keut [LP0046] | ||
| 19.5 | Tham Sam Yot [LP0045] |