Tham Pha Daeng - NA0019
19.495018,101.059990
Location
This cave is in the valley of the Huai Sanao to the north of Ban Mani Phruk. From the village take the good track which heads east to a junction after 2km (Sam Yaek - where the route back to Ban Mani Phruk 2 heads south and the track to the viewpoint heads east). From here turn north and follow the good dirt track for 6km to where a track heads north-west and down a ridge to a junction after 2.2km in the Huai Sanao valley. At this junction take the track north for 800m to the cave which on the eastern side of the valley. A Tham Khang Khao is signed in Thai off the main road near Chiang Kham. Information in Ban Mani Phruk is that this is the same cave as Tham Pha Daeng.
Description
From the entrance a stooping passage leads into a chamber with a stal boss. From here there is a descent into a second chamber which is the end of the cave. This cave was a refuge of the Communist Party of Thailand insurgents until 1982. Goodden's guidebook says that traces of their living quarters and equipment are evident, including some beds in working order, weapons hiding places, food trays and other utensils, but nothing was seen in 2010, only the remains of a monk's living quarters.
Documents
Bibliography 25/08/2020- CUMMINGS, JOE (1999) "Thailand" 8th edition, Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd, Hawthorn, Victoria ISBN 0-86442-636-4 1032pp DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 ELLIS, MARTIN (2005) "Some Caves in Thailand Part 1" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 11 No. 7 pp294-321 ELLIS, MARTIN (2010a) "Thailand's Deepest Cave Now Even Deeper" www.thailandcaves.shepton.org.uk/nan-expedition-20… ELLIS, MARTIN (2010b) "Thailand 2010" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Newsletter Vol. 47 No. 2 pp37-40 ELLIS, MARTIN (2010c) "Ban Mani Phruk Expeditions 2009 & 2010" Shepton Mallet Caving Club www.lulu.com/product/paperback/ban-mani-phruk-expe… 45pp Ellis, Martin (2011d) "Ban Mani Phruk Expeditions 2009 & 2010" Shepton Mallet Caving Club Journal Series 12 No. 7 pp342-369 Ellis, Martin (2015d) "Caves of Doi Phuka National Park" privately published, April 2015, 81pp GOODDEN, CHRISTIAN (2000) "Trek It Yourself in Northern Thailand" Jungle Books (Halesworth), England ISBN 0-9527383-2-5 414pp NATIONAL PARK OFFICE (2006) "National Parks in Thailand" National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok 280pp www.nantouring.com/phuka.html
History
Although a well known cave this first visit by cavers appears to be by the SMCC in February 2010.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | Sink NA0086 | ||
| 2.1 | Sink NA0087 | ||
| 2.3 | Tham Pha Daeng 2 [NA0131] | 80 | 8 |
| 2.6 | Sink NA0088 | ||
| 3.3 | Sink NA0089 | ||
| 3.6 | Tham Champi - NA0044 | 393 | 32 |
| 3.7 | Tham Ho Chai - NA0048 | 30 | 0 |
| 3.7 | Tham Ho Ying - NA0047 | 100 | 0 |
| 4.4 | Sink NA0090 |