The Caves of Udon Thani, Thailand - Caves & Caving in Thailand

The Caves of Udon Thani, 

Thailand 

Martin Ellis

2 | T h e C a v e s o f U d o n T h a n i 

The Caves of Thailand 

The Caves of Udon Thani 

January 2006 

Published by 

Takobi Ltd 

Lom Sak 

Phetchabun 

Thailand 

thailandcaves@gmail.com 

http://www.thailandcaves.shepton.org.uk 

Copyright © Martin Ellis, 2011 

Printed and bound by http://www.lulu.com. 

© Martin Ellis 2011

© Martin Ellis 2011 

CONTENTS 

T h e C a v e s o f U d o n T h a n i | 3 

CAVE DESCRIPTIONS............................................................................................................................. 4 

UNKNOWN AMPHOE ................................................................................................................................ 4 

AMPHOE NANG WUA SA ......................................................................................................................... 5 

AMPHOE BAN PHUE .................................................................................................................................. 6 

AMPHOE NAM SOM ................................................................................................................................ 10 

AMPHOE NONG SAENG .......................................................................................................................... 10 

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................ 11 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 11 

INDEX.......................................................................................................................................................... 12


Cave Descriptions 

T 

he caves are listed alphabetically and grouped by amphoe (administrative district). The 

code letter scheme was created by John Dunkley in 'Caves of Thailand' and the numbers 

have been continued in the Thai caves database maintained by the author. 

The entrances co-ordinates are UTM grid on the Indian 1954 (Thailand-Vietnam) datum. 

Abbreviations and Symbols 

∩ = cave visited by the author 

† = topographic name from map or gazetteer 

Alt. - altitude 

VR – vertical range of the cave 

Unknown Amphoe 

The following are all cave art sites catalogued and described by Senartorong (1989) and listed by 

Dunkley (1997). Most are probably sandstone rockshelters and many will be in the Phu Phra Bat 

Bua Hok Historical Park. As the author has not seen the book on Isaan cave art by Senartorong 

there is likely to be duplication with other caves. 

Tham Phra Na Luang 1 UD0030 

Dunkley (1997), Senartorong (1989) 







Tham Seua Tok 1 UD0038 


Tham Seua Tok 2 UD0039 


Tham Sawan Ran Kahan UD0040 



Tham Chaang UD0047 


Tham Chang UD0044 


Tham Meu Daeng UD0046 


Tham Nai Duang Jit UD0045 


Tham Non Hin Kelii Yang 1 UD0041 


Tham Non Hin Kelii Yang 2 UD0042 


Tham Phra Ajann Kham Wang UD0048 


Tham Phra Yarnak UD0050 


Tham Poon UD0042 


Tham Sam UD0049 


Amphoe Nang Wua Sa 

Tham Duuk UD0052 

Wat Tham Duuk, Ban Nong Aw Ti 



Wat Tham Duuk is a famous meditation wat near Ban Nong Aw Tai. It is about 40 km from 

Udon Thani town along the H210 towards Nong Bua Lam Phu. There are no details of the cave,


assuming there is a cave in the wat. Caves of Thailand says the wat is in Nong Bua Lam Phu 

province, but amphoe Nang Wua Sa is in Udon Thani. 

Dunkley (1997) 

Amphoe Ban Phue 

Tham Pha Muak UD0008 

48Q 0217 1969 

The grid reference places the cave near the H2348 7km north-west of Klang Yai. 


Tham Kai UD0009 

48Q 0217 1969 

Prehistoric art site. The grid reference places the cave near the H2348 7km north-west of Klang 

Yai. 

Damrikun (n.d.), Khemnak (1990), Khemnak (1992) Dunkley (1995) 

Tham Toe UD0010 

48Q 0219 1968 


Yai. 


Tham Nai Amphon UD0011 

48Q 0219 1966 


Yai. 


Tham Mon Seu Ai UD0012 

48Q 0219 1962 

The grid reference placea the cave near the H2348 7km south-west of Klang Yai, near the Phu 

Phra Bat Historical Park. 


Tham Korng UD0013 

48Q 0220 1960 




The grid reference places the cave near the H2348 11km west of Ban Phu, near the Phu Phra Bat 

Historical Park. 


Phu Phra Bat Bua Bok Historical (Forest) Park 

From Udon Thani town take the H2 north and then turn left (west) onto the H2021 to Ban Phu, a 

distance of around 42 km. From Ban Phu take the H2348 and then turn off left (west) to the park 

which is about 11 km from Ban Phu. The park is open from 08:00 – 16:30 and charges an 

entrance fee. There is a campsite which charges 100 baht for two people. The site covers an area 

of around 1,300 acres and was declared an historical park by the Fine Arts Department in 

February 1996. The park features a large number of ancient buildings and objects of both 

prehistoric and historic times. They are mostly of the Dvaravati, Lopburi and 

Lanchang styles. The Park is located in the Pa Khua Nam forest and it has many rocks of 

peculiar shapes and caves with ancient paintings. The numerous 'caves' are rockshelters formed 

in sandstone. It is very well known and is included in most guidebooks. 

Tham Khon UD0005 

48Q 0218 1960 

Tham Khon is a sandstone rockshelter with either ancient paintings including eight people. 

However, Caves of Thailand says it has crude paintings of Dvaravati Buddhas and Hindu gods 

from the Lopburi period. 

Damrikun (n.d.), Clarac & Pagau-Clarac (1985), Khemnak (1990), Khemnak (1992) Dunkley 

(1995) 

Tham Wua Daeng UD0006 

48Q 0218 1960 

This cave has paintings depicting the life of the prehistoric community, including a herd of 

cattle, human figures, hands and geometric designs. The paintings are dated to 2,500 – 3,000 

years ago or, according to Caves of Thailand, the cave might have crude paintings of Dvaravati 

Buddhas and Hindu gods from the Lopburi period. 

Damrikun (n.d.), Clarac & Pagau-Clarac (1985), Khemnak (1990), Khemnak (1992) Dunkley 

(1995) 

Tham Non Sao Ae 1 UD0014 

This cave has paintings depicting the life of the prehistoric community and are dated to 2,500 – 

3,000 years. 


Tham Non Sao Ae 2 UD0015 

Tham Non Sao Ae 2 is 20m from Tham Non Sao Ae 1.



Tham Lei Meu UD0025 

A prehistoric art site near Tham Khon, Tham Wua Daeng and Tham Non Sao Ae 1. 


Tham Koeng UD0016 

Other names: Tham Kwang; Deer Cave 

A small rockshelter near Ban Tiu containing X-ray figure paintings. 


Tham Tao 1 UD0017 

Cave art site. 

Senartorong (1989), Dunkley (1995), Dunkley (1997) 










Tham Phu Huak UD0018 

Other names: Tham Phu Tum 

A prehistoric art site near Tham Tao 


Tham Bang UD0019 

Other names: Tham Sam Mek 

A prehistoric art site near Tham Tao and Tham Phu Huak . 



Tham Chang 



This cave has paintings depicting the life of the prehistoric community and are dated to 2,500 – 

3,000 years ago. 

Tham Sung UD0043 

Other names: Tham Soong 

Another cave with 2,500 – 3,000 year old paintings. 

Senartorong (1989), Dunkley (1997) 

Tham Phra 

The cave is described as having carved sandstone Buddha images in various poses which date to 

the Dvaravati period. 

Red Palm Cave 

It is assumed that this cave has ancient palm prints done in red paint. 

Wat Pho Ta Rockshelter UD0026 

This is a collection of sandstone rocks that form many shelters. It has sema boundary stones and 

in one the shelters there are many Dvaravati period Buddha images carved in sandstone. 

Clarac & Pagau-Clarac (1985), Dunkley (1995) 

Tham Din Pieng UD0029 

Length: 68 m VR: 3.5 m 

Known as the "Underground Cave" to distinguish it from the numerous rockshelters. A subhorizontal 

passage 10 m wide and between 0.8 and 2 m high which leads to an aven. 

Mouret & Mouret (1994), Dunkley (1997) 

Tham Naka 

Tham Naka has only a few metres of fissure passage formed at a stratigraphic discontinuity. 

Mouret & Mouret (1994) 

Bo Nam Nang Usa UD0028 

Caves of Thailand also lists Bo Nam Nang Usa Rockshelter, but this is just an unusual sandstone 

tower within the park


Clarac & Pagau-Clarac (1985), Dunkley (1995) 

Caves 

Phu Pha Daeng Forest Park 

The tourist information on the park describes the attractions as including "rocky mounds, rocky 

beds, ...caves, cliffs and giant rocks”. 

Phu Tham 

48Q 0193 1997 

1km east of Ban Hia near the Nong Khai/Loei/Udon Thani border. 


Huai Tham Chang 

48Q 0217 1975 


Amphoe Nam Som 

Small Cave 

Pha Daeng, Na Yung – Nam Som Forest Park 

About 1.5km from the park's head office along the Yoong Thong waterfall trail you come to a 

high sandstone cliff, called Pha Daeng (Red Cliff). Nearby there is a small cave which was a 

meditation place for Luang Poo Man Purithatto. Luang Man is one of the most famous of the 

Thai forest monks and lived from 1870 to 1949. 

Tiyavanich (1997) 

Amphoe Nong Saeng 

Caves 

Nam Tok Than Ngam Forest Park 

Near where the Huai Wang Kum joins the Huai Num Kong is the Than Ngam waterfall. Above 

the fall, up on the mountain, there are many rock mounds, cliffs and beautiful and strange 

looking caves. 


Appendices 

1. Bibliography 



ANON. (1992b) "Phu Phra Bat Historical Park" Bangkok, 18pp 

ANON. (n.d.) "Phu Phra Bat Historical Park" Fine Arts Department, Bangkok 120pp 

CLARAC, A.; PAGAU-CLARAC, H. (1985) "Thailande: Guide Touristique" DK Book House, Bangkok 

ISBN 974-2104-174 508pp 

DAMRIKUN, S. (unknown date) "Prehistoric Rock Paintings in Udon Thani" Muang Boran Journal 

DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1995) "The Caves of Thailand" Speleological Research Council, Sydney 

ISBN 0-9589253-9-9 124pp 

DUNKLEY, JOHN ROBERT (1997) "The Caves of Thailand - Addendum 1995-97" Speleological 

Research Council, Sydney 

KHEMNAK, P. (1990) "Rock Art in Ban Phu District, Udon Thani Province, Northeastern 

Thailand" Krom Sinlapakon, Bangkok 120pp ISBN 9-744-171-278 

KHEMNAK, P. (1992) "Phu Phra Bat Historical Park" Krom Sinlapakon, Bangkok 120pp ISBN 9- 

744-172-495 

MOURET, CLAUDE; MOURET, LIEN (1994) "Prospection des karsts gréseux du nord-est de la 

Thaïlande (Esarn)" Spelunca No. 55 pp6-9 

SENARTARONG, T. (1989) "Cave Art of Isaan" Krom Silpakorn, Bangkok ISBN 974-7936-49-6 

208pp 

TIYAVANICH, KAMALA (1997) "Forest Recollections. Wandering Monks in Twentieth-Century 

Thailand" University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu ISBN 0-8248-1781-8 410pp


Index 

Deer Cave See Tham Koeng 

Huai Tham Chang 10 

Phu Tham 10 

Red Palm Cave 9 

Tham Bang 8 

Tham Chaang 5 

Tham Chang 5, 9 

Tham Din Pieng 9 

Tham Duuk 5 

Tham Kai 6 

Tham Khon 7 

Tham Koeng 8 

Tham Korng 6 

Tham Kwang See Tham Koeng 

Tham Lei Meu 8 

Tham Meu Daeng 5 

Tham Mon Seu Ai 6 

Tham Nai Amphon 6 

Tham Nai Duang Jit 5 

Tham Naka 9 

Tham Non Hin Kelii Yang 1 5 

Tham Non Hin Kelii Yang 2 5 

Tham Non Sao Ae 1 7 


Tham Non Sao Ae 2 7 

Tham Pha Muak 6 

Tham Phra 9 

Tham Phra Ajann Kham Wang 5 

Tham Phra Na Luang 1 4 




Tham Phra Yarnak 5 

Tham Phu Huak 8 

Tham Phu Tum See Tham Phu Tum 

Tham Poon 5 

Tham Sam 5 

Tham Sam Mek See Tham Bang 

Tham Sawan Ran Kahan 4 

Tham Seua Tok 1 4 

Tham Seua Tok 2 4 

Tham Soong See Tham Sung 

Tham Sung 9 

Tham Tao 1 8 

Tham Tao 2 8 

Tham Tao 3 8 

Tham Tao 4 8 

Tham Toe 6 

Wat Pho Ta Rockshelter 9

The Caves of Udon Thani, Thailand - Caves & Caving in Thailand

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