Tham Plaew Plong Fah - CR0015
20.327681,99.863185
Location
Within the grounds of WatTham Plah, at the southern end of the complex, there is a flight of jusdt over 200 steps, guarded by stone lions, leading to the cave.
Description
The cave is approached through a spectcular natural canyon formed by the collapse of the roof of a former extension of the cave. The cave itself consists of a single high rift chamber with a Buddha in front of a golden chedi naturally lit by a window high in the ceiling. A short cul-de-sac on the right houses another shrine with a golden Buddha accompanied by a hermit.
Topographie
Ellis & Unsworth (July 2016) Grade UISv2 3-3-F
Documents
[Topo] Tham Plaew Plong Fah 28/04/2019Bibliography 10/08/2019
- ANON. (1981) Tourist Magazine Nov 1981 DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 Kotsupho, Phisit (2016) "The Nan local wisdom: The unseen manuscripts" Journal of International Buddhist Studies Vol. 7 No. 1 June 2016 pp25-40 MUNIER, CHRISTOPHE (1998) "Sacred Rocks and Buddhist Caves in Thailand" White Lotus Co. Ltd, Bangkok ISBN 974-8434-19-2 266pp SIDISUNTHORN, PINDAR; GARDNER, SIMON; SMART, DEAN (2006) "Caves of Northern Thailand" River Books, Thailand, ISBN 9749863135 SPONSEL, LESLIE E.; NATADECHA-SPONSEL, PORANEE (2003) "The Monk-Cave-Bat-Ecosystem Complex in Thailand" in CHAPPEL, DAVID W. (ED.) "Socially Engaged Spirituality: Essays in Honor of Sulak Sivaraksa on his 70th Birthday" Saithirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation, Bangkok, pp255-270. Reprinted in GOTTLIEB, ROGER S. (2004) "This Sacred Earth: Religion, Nature, Environment" Routledge, New York, pp134-144 VOGT, NILS B. (2013) "Temple Caves & Grottoes in Thailand: A Picture-Guide Book" Booksmango, Bangkok ISBN 978-616-222-160-6 214pp
History
Local legend is that this is another place where the Buddha came after his enlightenment and his ankle bone is still there. According to a Yonok legend it is said that the Lord Buddha came here once and a villager gave him grilled fishes. The Lord Buddha wished those fishes to become alive again and liberated them to a hole at Plew Plong Fah. Phra Anond, the Lord BuddhaÆs follower, poured water from his bowl into the hole and it later became a canal. After that the Lord Buddha closed the hole and put his hair in a stone that he used for closing it. In 957 CE King Uchutarat of Yonoknakorn had established a pagoda to contain a relic of the Lord Buddha at Plew Plong Fah cavern. There is another pagoda not far from the cave called ôIn Plaeng Pagodaö. It is said that the god Indra disguised himself as a MyanmarÆs ascetic called U-Suai Lah built this pagoda in 1912 CE. When the pagoda was finished the ascetic disappeared and nobody has seen him since. 2016-07-06 (M. Ellis, V. Unsworth) - surveyed cave
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Resurgence CR0076 | ||
| 0.1 | Resurgence CR0077 | ||
| 0.1 | Tham Plah - CR0013 | ||
| 0.3 | Tham Ku Kaeo - CR0010 | 530 | 10 |
| 0.4 | Tham Noi [CR0078] | 8 | 0 |
| 0.5 | Tham Sao Hin Phraya Naak [CR0028] | 80 | 0 |
| 0.9 | Cave CR0011 - CR0011 | ||
| 1.7 | Sink CR0103 | ||
| 1.7 | Cave CR0101 |