Tham Ki Nok - CM0002
19.394042,98.924714
Location
The cave is in the cliffs above Tham Chiang Dao, reached by a steep trail from the back of the temple complex, 100 m north-west of the main cave entrance. The path is steep and slippery with an ascent of 200 m. A narrow bamboo ramp skirts along the edge of towering cliffs to reach the small entrance. This final traverse to the entrance is hazardous and exposed and a fall would probably be fatal. There is a short flight of stairs up the final climb to the entrance.
Description
Equipement
Two blind pitches of 15 m and 35 m.
To do
The only passage not explored, at the bottom of the hole, is probably without interest (slight draught coming out of a narrow squeeze).
Topographie
DEHARVENG, LOUIS; GOUZE, ALAIN (1983b) DEHARVENG, LOUIS ET AL. (1986) - Grade UISv2 3-3-A (APS 1981-85)
The cave ascends for 55 m through a series of four chambers becoming increasingly grander in scale until the last one which is over 60 m long and divided by a gigantic stone island encrusted with flowstone. A side tunnel on the left leads to leads to two vertical shafts (P15 and P35) which are choked. The second chamber is lit by a large cave window and houses a sacred stalagmite wrapped in an orange cloth ('Ji Won'). The entire cave is coated with copious quantities of guano up to 1.5 m thick which is actively mined by local people and supports a diverse range of species not found in Tham Chiang Dao.
Documents
[Topo] Tham Ki Nok 05/05/2019Bibliography 25/06/2019
- +DEHARVENG, LOUIS; GOUZE, ALAIN (1983a) "Grottes et Karsts des Environs de Chiang Mai (Thailande)" Karstologia No. 2 pp55-60 +DEHARVENG, LOUIS; GOUZE, ALAIN (1983b) "ExpÚdition en Thailande - Rapport Speleologique" Privately circulated report +DEHARVENG, LOUIS ET AL. (1986) "ExpÚdition Tha´-Maros 85" Association PyrÚnÚenne de SplÚologie, Toulouse ISBN 2-906273-00-7 +DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 +Martin, Steven Andrew (2016) "Introduction to karst topography with emphasis on Thailand and the Andaman coast" lecture notes, Education Abroad Asia 85pp +PRICE, LIZ (1986) "Liz's Asian Adventures - Thailand" Cerberus Spelaeological Society Journal Vol. 16 No. 5 pp115-118 reprinted in South Wales Caving Club Newsletter No. 103 pp5-8 +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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Sua Dao (Tham) [Tham Sia Dao] [Tham Tai Ger] [Grotte du Tigre} [CM0004] | 116 | 2 |
| 0.3 | Tham Ngorb - CM0160 | ||
| 0.3 | Chiang Dao (Tham) [CM0001] | 5170 | 43 |
| 1.1 | Pha Plong (Tham) [CM0003] | 25 | 0 |
| 1.2 | Tham Pak Piang [Tham Pak Pbiang] [Tham Pok Piang] [CM0020] | 90 | 18 |
| 1.2 | Cave CHD14 - CM0064 | 10 | 0 |
| 1.2 | Tham Pak Sung [Tham Pok Soong] [Tham Pbak Sung] [CM0021] | 20 | 0 |
| 1.3 | White Buddha Cave [Tham Bia] [Grotte du Boudha blanc] [CM0022] | 110 | 11 |
| 2.3 | Cave PL29 - CM0229 | 56 | 32 |