Tham Pha Lak [NA0007]
18.384955,100.643604
Location
Tham Pha Lak is in moo 2 Ban Nam Phu. It is very difficult to find and a GPS is required. From the H1026 from Na Noi to Wiang Sa take the H3003 on the left (west) for 6.9 km through Ban Nam Phu. About 1.3 km after Wat Nam Phu take a dirt track on the right (north) at 47Q 673830 2032105 (passable by car or motorcycle) for 1.9 km to a limestone outcrop. The path to the cave starts on the left following the karst outcrop. Go for about 200 m along the trail and turn left into the bamboo forest. One passes a small temple on the left (on a rotten wooden footbridge) and before a small kiosk. Continue to ascend following the little path. After passing a wooden porch carry on for 40 or 50 m and the cave is slightly to the left. It is difficult to see more than 10 m because of the vegetation and be careful because there are two sinkholes.
Description
This cave starts with a small drop of 6 m with two metal ladders. It descends on the side of the shaft via a somewhat narrow passage (the well has a diameter of 3 m). Below, a low passage leads to a large room which is at the bottom of a second pothole. On the right two tunnels quickly narrow. One of them must serve as a place of meditation. In the main gallery a bamboo boardwalk has been built about one metre above the ground over its entire length. This leads to the end of the passage where on the right is an exit (passable by climbing) and on the left a P8 equipped with a metal ladder for ascending to the same exit. The bottom of the pitch is in a fairly spacious room, and after having crossed a wooden bridge, you reach another pitch which is undescended, estimated at 10 or 15 m and is also equipped with a ladder made of metal or wood.
Topographie
JARLAN, PHILIPPE; CARON-JARLAN, VIOLAINE, BELUCHE, ALEXANDRA; BELUCHE, FRANCOIS (2010)
Documents
[Topo] Tham Pha Lak 14/05/2019Bibliography 20/08/2020
History
Explored and surveyed by Jarlan in July 2008.
Caves nearby
Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
---|---|---|---|
11.0 | Tham Pha Wiang - NA0001 | ||
11.0 | Tham Pha Mong [NA0013] | ||
11.5 | Tham Phra Chao - NA0011 | ||
12.1 | Ban Huat Tham - NA0014 | ||
14.2 | Tham Chatawan Temple Cave [NA0038] | 22 | 2 |
14.2 | Tham Chatawan Lower Cave [NA0039] | 50 | 12 |
16.8 | Tham Pha Phu - NA0015 | ||
17.5 | Tham La-ong [NA0067] | 2969 | 40 |
17.7 | Sri Nan Cave 2 - NA0056 |