Phum (Tham)

DREYBRODT JOERG informations

Frédéric Urien - 23/06/2024

History: Explo history: - 25.05.1867 visited by Commander Doudart de Lagrée, sketched by L. Delaport [3725], only cave Pak-Ou cave mentioned, but from description and scatches it is clear that both caves were visited [3729], [3733] - 27.11.1883 visited by P. Neis [7428] - 1992 visited by Mouret (F) [3713] - 1992-97 Lao-Australian Conservation Project, University of Canberra [6344] - 12.11.2004 surveyed for spiders by P. Jäger & V. Vedel, SMF [6097] Cave description: Citation: Analysis: [3539]: list& development [3713] descript, photographs [3721]: old Buddhist caves [3650]: two caves in the lower part of a limestone cliff, stuffed with buddha images of all sizes and styles (mostly classic Luang Phabang standing Buddhas), the lower cave, entered from the river by a series of steps, is called Tham Thing and can be easily seen by daylight. Stairs to the left of Tham Thing lead round to the upper cave, Tham Phum, which is deeper and requires artificial light 67] second cave, whos name is not known, considerable bigger and deeper than Vat Tham, is reached by a trail leading around the rock of Vat Tham. [3722] pic only [4023] in list of historical monuments: Province de Luang Prabang ,Numéros: 11; Muong: Luang Prabang; Nom du Monument: Pak-U; Désignation: Grotte haute: facade d´entrée; Reference: --. [4473] descript of a tourist visit [6288]: Equally fascinating are the Pak Ou caves which can be reached by a 2-hour boat trip upstream from Luang Prabang. They are located within the steep rock-cliff which rises vertically from the waters of the Mekong river at the point where it meets with the Nam Ou river. The lower cave, called Tham Ting, and the upper cave, Tham Prakachay, shelter numerous Buddha images of varying styles, ages and sizes, which have been [6344]: description of the conservation project >> survey [6887]: The history of the cave is use for religious purposes was at the time when the local population worshipped ghosts or the spirits of nature. It is said that the caves are associated with a river spirit. It is believed that the Lao people first entered the river valley in the middle of the eight century after moving southwards from south China. It was not until considerable later that Buddhism first spread the area from the west. By the 16th century Buddhism has been adopterd by the royal families of Laos and the caves received patronage from that time until 1975. Every year the King and the people of Luang Prabang made a pilgrimage to the caves as part of the New Year religious observances. Artisans were commissioned by the royal family to prepare sculptures. Many of the carvings in the cave date from between the 18th to 20th centuries. The more than 4000 sculptures of Buddha now found in the Tam ting caves have been placed there by worshippers [....] the mouth of the lower cave is a prominent landmarkvisible from the Mekong river. Paved pathways lead up to the cave as wall as to the upper cava [sic!]; some 60 metres above the river. Approximately 2500 sculptures are located in the lower cave. A local point for visitors is the altar closest to the entry where offerings of flowers, incese and candles are made. Lion figures guard the entry while a Ramayana sculpture of a "hermit" associated with forst medicines sites immidiatly above the lower entry platform. A large stupa like structure surmounts the hgighest platform. A smaller stupa on the cliff face to the south holds the ashes of a recently deceased villager. A small spring in the cave supplied holy water which was used during the annual New Yearceremony. (Fretter & Qualitz 2011): Die Pak Ou Höhlen ... Die Höhlen bestehen aus zwei Hohlräumen, dem größeren und höher gelegenen Tham Phum und dem kleineren und tiefer gelegenen Tham Ting. Equipment: Remarks:Düker & Monreal 2003 [4983] use "Tham Ting" as synonym for "Pak Ou Caves". They call the lower cave "Tham Loum", the upper one "Tham Theung" References: [0067]: Kusch, H. 1975: Höhlen in Laos, Nord- und Westthailand - Höhlengebiete Südostasiens III. Die Höhle 26 (4): 114-123. [3539]: Brouquisse, F. & Mouret, C. 1997: Expéditions spéléologiques au Laos, 1991-1996. In: Mouret, C., Brouquisse, F. & Vacquié, J.F. (eds.): Explorations speleologiques au Laos 1991-1996. Rapport de Presentation des Resultats: 13-17. [3650]: Robinson, D. & Cummings, J. 1991: Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia - a travel survival kit. Lonley Plantet Publications Pty. Ltd, Hawthorn. 563 pp. [3677]: Brouquisse, F., Gregory, A., Hedouin, M. & Preziosi, E. 1999: Catalogue of caves in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The International Caver 25: 13-16. [3713]: Mouret, C. 1997: Reconnaissances et explorations de 1992. In: Mouret, C., Brouquisse, F. & Vacquié, J.F. (eds.): Explorations speleologiques au Laos 1991-1996. Rapport de Presentation des Resultats. [3721]: Mouret, C. 1997: L'utilisation des grottes par l'homme au Laos. In: Mouret, C., Brouquisse, F. & Vacquié, J.F. (eds.): Explorations speleologiques au Laos 1991-1996. Rapport de Presentation des Resultats. Rapport au Gouvernement laotien: 73-97. [3722]: Mouret, C. 1997: Le tourisme dans les grottes du Laos, un potentiel économique de premier plan dont l'exploitation nécessite une protection intensive du milieu naturel. In: Mouret, C., Brouquisse, F. & Vacquié, J.F. (eds.): Explorations speleologiques au Laos 1991-1996. Rapport de Presentation des Resultats. Rapport au Gouvernement laotien: 98-99. [3725]: Gebauer, H.D. 1998: A note on early cave exploration in Laos. The International Caver 23: 32. [3729]: Garnier, F. 1996: Travels in Cambodia and Parts of Laos. The Mekong River Exploration Commission Report (1866-1886) - Volume 1 (ed. W.E. Tips) White Lotus Press, Bangkok. 346 pp + 1 map. [3744]: Mouret, C. 1993: Echo des profondeurs: Laos. Reconnaissances et explorations de 1992. Spelunca 52: 4-6. [4023]: Anon. 1926: Liste des monuments historiques du Laos. Bulletin de l`Ecole Francaise d`Extrême-Orient 26: 642-647. [4473]: Bleiberg, L. 1999: News and stories from Laos: Asia as it was. www.visit-laos.com/news/bleiberg.htm. 7pp. [4983]: Düker, J. & Monreal, A. 2003: Stefan Loose Travel Handbuch Laos. Du Mont Reiseverlag. 400 pp. [5158]: Dreybrodt, J. & Laumanns, M. (eds.) 2005: The unknown North of Laos (Karst and Caves of the Provinces Luang Phrabang and Luang Nam Tha). Berliner Höhlenkundliche Berichte 16. 105 pp & Annex. [5456]: Lao Embassy, Washington 1997: Luang Prabang Province. URL: www.laoembassy.com/discover/sites/luangprabang.htm [5457]: ETC Asia 2000: Luang Prabang - out and about. URL: www.visit-laos.com/where/luangprabang/outandabout.… [5513]: Rohweder, A. & Rohweder, M. 2004: World mapping project: Laos 1:600 000. Reise Know-How Verlag Peter Rump, Bielefeld. [6097]: Jäger, P. 2007: Spiders of Laos with descriptions of new species (Arachnida: Araneae). - Acta Arachnologica 56 (1): 29-58. [6288]: Asia-Discovery.com : Laos Travel Guide: Tourist Attraction in Laos. - URL: www.asia-discovery.com/Laosattractions.htm. downloaded 11.04.2008. [6344]: Egloff, B. 2003: Archaeology and the transformation of living heritage places. - Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Bulletin 23 (Taipei Papers, Volume 1), 173-186. [----]: www.showcaves.com/english/misc/showcaves/PakOu.htm… [6887]: Anon. 2008: Tham Ting Cave. - Discovery Laos. Travel and Business Magazine 2: 20. [7428]: Neis, P. 1997: Travels in Upper Laos and Siam with an Account of the Chinese Haw Invasion and Puan Resistance. - White Lotus Press, Bangkok. 157 pp. - Fretter, A.-S.; Qualitz, G. 2011: Lebensader Mekong – Inwiefern führt die Einbindung der Dörfer am Mekong in Wirtschaftskreisläufe zu Veränderungen der traditionellen Lebensweisen? Pp. 125–136 in: L. Suwala & E. Kulke (Ed..): Thailand / Laos - Bericht zur Hauptexkursion 2011. Arbeitsberichte Geographisches Institut Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 166