Tham Pa Fa Cave located near Na Khang Xang Village in Thakhaek District, recently came into the news following the discovery of 229 Buddha statues which are said to be over 300 years old in a previously unexplored cave. In April 2004, a local villager by the name of Mr. Boun Nong entered the small cave opening 15m from ground level. He had noticed bats entering the cave and decided to climb a vine to investigate, with the intention of collecting bats (a local delicacy).
Passing through the small cave entrance he looked down into the cavern below and to his amazement saw a large Buddha statue. Proceeding down into the cave he realized that there were over 200 Buddha statues ranging in size from 15cm to over 1m tall. For one week he did not tell anyone in the village, as he did not believe what he had seen and thought that it might just be his imagination, but finally returned with a group of nine villagers to reinvestigate. Word about the new discovery soon spread, and the cave has become one of Khammouane's most visited attractions. The villagers have since organized themselves to guard the cave and its sacred Buddha statues 24 hours a day.
The Buddha images are a collection from the Sikhottabong and the Lane Xang eras, with some thought to be of Khmer and Vietnamese origin. Together with the images, palm leaf manuscripts written in ancient Lao script, Lane Xang-style dharma, Lanna-style dharma, Pali dharma and ancient Khmer scripts are also present. It is unknown how these treasures came to be in the cave. The cave is named after the lake located at the foot of the cliff, Nong Pa Fa (meaning "Lake of Soft-shelled Turtle"). The limestone formations within the cave are quite spectacular and add to the natural beauty of the cave. There is a small entrance fee for visitors. Please also note that in this cave photography is prohibited. Close to the cave are stalls selling snacks, drinks, seasonal fruits and incense produced in the village.
The cave has two levels, the upper level is dry and contains the buddhas, the lower level is water filled and is visited on canoes. The water forms a lake in front of the cliff, called Nong Pa Fa (lake of soft-shelled turtle).
The cave is reached on a hike, which enters a secluded valley with steep cliffs by crossing a through cave. The first cave reached is Tham Nong Paseum, which is a water cave. More adventurous participants which are good swimmers can explore the 400m long cave with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave is moderately developed, with a bamboo ladder to the entrance and leveled floors. There is daylight in the cave, but it is advisable to bring light, if possible a headlamp. We also recommend good shoes, long pants, a shirt with sleeves, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a hat for hiking. The visit requires hiking and optional swimming.
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét