Pak Ou Caves

• Throughout Southeast Asia caves are significant land forms to the Southeast Asia ethnic groups. This is because of their animist traditions and the beliefs that here in these numerous limestone caves are the dwellings of the ''Phi'', the local River and Cave spirits. The Pak Ou Caves are located in the limestone cliffs on the Mekong River 25 kilometers up river from the City of Luang Prabang and have been a place for pilgrimage for several hundred years. One can visit there from Luang prabang by taking a 2 hour boat trip north from Luang Prabang.
• The local tradition is that the Pak Ou Caves were ''discovered'' in the 16th Century by King Setthathirat [ 1520 to 1548 ] upon the construction on the opposite side of the Mekhong River of Wat Pak Ou. The first European to visit the Pak Ou Caves was the French explorer Francis Garnier.
• There are two levels to visit. The front of these Caves is illustrated in the image here on this page. As you can see they are set up high from the water edge and are accessible by steep steps also illustrated here. The higher Cave is 60 meters above the water level of the Mekhong River. The higher Cave is called Tham Phum and the lower Cave is called Tham Thing.
• Whilst the Caves are said to be a Buddhist temple they are also a local animist center. Buddhist pilgrims have visited here for over 300 years and as was the tradition many left Buddha statues [ images ]. Today there are over four thousand images. Many are covered in dust and neglected. The majority date from between the 18th and 19th centuries. The oldest are made of wood and many are also made of lacquer and gilded. They can be seen on every shelf and crevice within the Caves.