Tham Phra Wattanaram - KK0016
16.666104,101.896788
Location
This is a large shrine cave 300m to the east of the well sign posted Tham Khang Khao. From Khon San, on the H12 road, go north-west through Ban Phu Pha Man and head towards the limestone massif to the north. Alternatively the sign posts can be followed from the H201 road a few kilometres north of the junction with the H12.
Description
In the wat steps lead up to the very high entrancw where a large Buddha sits at the bottom of a boulder pile. Some ladders are in place to aid the ascent of the boulders and into the cave proper. The large, phreatic, main passage ascends steeply to a small upper exit which is on top of the hill. To the west there is a passage which goes past a collapse entrance and then narrows and descends to eventually open in the wall of the main passage. On the east of the main passage there is another passage/chamber with a bat colony that has not been explored. For anyone brave enough to want to explore the very rugged karst at the summit of the Pha Man massif ascending through this cave would be the easiest way to get there. This is the deepest known cave in Khon Kaen.
Topographie
ELLIS, MARTIN (2009) - BCRA Grade 5b
Documents
[Topo] Tham Phra Wattanaram 30/04/2019Bibliography 29/09/2019
- BOHWONGPRASERT, YVONNE (2007) "Cave Adventure" Bangkok Post Horizons 18 October 2007 DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 ELLIS, MARTIN (2009) "Thailand's Longest and Deepest Caves" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 12 No. 4 pp140-232 Ellis, Martin (2015c) "Thailand's Longest and Deepest Caves: A Caving Guide" Martin Ellis, Shepton Mallet ISBN 978-1-326-43857-9 84pp ELLIS, MARTIN; BARRETT, DAVE (2001) "Thailand Expedition February 2000 Report" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 10 No. 8 pp247-272 VOGT, NILS B. (2013) "Temple Caves & Grottoes in Thailand: A Picture-Guide Book" Booksmango, Bangkok ISBN 978-616-222-160-6 214pp
History
Tham Phra Wattanaram was first visited by the SMCC in 2000, but it wasnÆt until January 2005 that the cave was fully explored and surveyed. In January 2006 about 100m of extra passage was explored, but a closer examination, particularly of the bat chamber to the east of the main chamber, is required. 2005-01-06 SMCC (M. Ellis, D. Owen)
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | Tham Khang Khao - KK0026 | 100 | 0 |
| 0.8 | Cave KK0076 - KK0076 | 5 | 0 |
| 2.3 | Tham Fun - KK0046 | 107 | 11 |
| 2.5 | Nam Phut Sam Poep [KK0081] | ||
| 2.5 | Tham India - KK0074 | 50 | 0 |
| 2.6 | Cave KK0075 - KK0075 | 50 | 0 |
| 3.0 | Tham Tao - KK0017 | ||
| 5.4 | Nam Phut That Tao [KK0036] | ||
| 5.6 | Spring KK0077 - KK0077 |