Tham Pa Fa or Buddha Cave
Tham Pa Fa ranks 2nd in the list of the most beautiful caves in Laos. Tham Pa Fa, commonly known as the Buddha Cave, is famed for its 229 bronze Buddha statues, some of which date back over 300 years. The cave and statues were discovered by a villager chasing bats in 2004, therefore it has only been on the map for the past 12 years. The Buddhas, which range in height from 15 centimeters to one meter, are absolutely magnificent and give visitors a tremendous sense of Laotian culture and religion. The Buddha statues are located on the cave's upper level. You can canoe across the bottom level, which is filled with water. To get to Tham Pa Fa, you'll usually have to climb. The Buddha Cave is located in Na Khang Xang, Khammouane Province.
Buddha statues from the Sikhottabong and Lane Xang eras can be found in the cave. Palm leaf texts in ancient Lao script are also available. Religious texts such as Lane Xang-style dharma, Lanna-style dharma, Pali dharma, and ancient Khmer scripts can be found in the manuscripts. So far, no one knows how the riches ended up in this cave or why it was kept there. The cave is divided into two levels: the upper level is dry and holds the Buddhas, while the bottom level is filled with water and is only accessible by boat. In front of the cliff, the water forms a lake known as Nong Pa Fa (lake of soft-shelled turtle). This lake inspired the name of the cave. The cave is accessible by a trek that leads through a through cave into an isolated valley with steep rocks. Tham Nong Paseum, a water cave, is the first cave reached. The 400 m long cave with outstanding stalactites and stalagmites can be explored by more adventurous participants who are competent swimmers. With a bamboo staircase leading to the entrance and even flooring, the cave is modestly developed. Although there is daylight in the cave, it is recommended that you carry light, preferably a headlamp. For hiking, Toplist also recommends appropriate shoes, long pants, a sleeved shirt, bug repellent, sunscreen, and a hat. Hiking and swimming are optional throughout the visit.
Location: Na Khang Xang, Khammouane Province
