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
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.
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).
Equipement
Two blind pitches of 15 m and 35 m.
Topographie
DEHARVENG, LOUIS; GOUZE, ALAIN (1983b) DEHARVENG, LOUIS ET AL. (1986) - Grade UISv2 3-3-A (APS 1981-85)
Documents
Bibliography 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 | Tham Sua Dao [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 | Tham Pha Plong - 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 |