Tham Pha Ya - LO0053

Martin Ellis - 12/03/2020

From the wat 500 steps lead up to the big entrance where there is a large shrine. Behind the shrine there is a large passage where the slope of dry guano can be ascended to reach a first chamber with a colony of 'squealer' bats. Beyond this is a second chamber which is about 10¦C warmer, the air is rank with ammonia, the floor is crawling with bugs and there is a wall of white noise from the huge main bat colony. The passage was seen to continue, but was not explored. Back near the entrance there are some side passages and entrances and a few metres around the cliff there is another short section of passage. Every evening these bats leave the cave at 17:00 in a large exit flight which lasts around an hour.