Pak Ou Caves
Interesting facts
- A 2018 survey counted more than 50 rock art elements at the site, mostly paintings, some likely made long before Buddhism reached the region.
- The oldest images, painted in red, show domesticated buffalo, human figures and handprints, similar to rock art at other highland sites in Southeast Asia.
- Researchers found that the paintings span many periods, from possibly the Neolithic to images that can be dated to the 20th century.
- Folk tradition holds that the caves were once home to a river spirit, worshipped here before the site became a Buddhist shrine around the 15th century.
- According to local tradition, the cave shrine was founded by King Setthathirath in the mid-16th century, after a temple was built on the opposite bank.
- Most of the figures are carved from wood, and some are terracotta; the upper cave was once closed with doors.
- For centuries people have left Buddha statues here for luck, and at Lao New Year in April devotees still bring new figures and ritually wash the old ones.
- The Lao royal family once travelled to the caves at New Year with monks and townspeople to pour water over a sacred Buddha image.
Why it is worth it
The Pak Ou Caves are two openings in a cliff on the west bank of the Mekong, close to where the Ou River flows into it. The name means "mouth of the Ou". Tham Ting, the lower cave, sits just above the water line. Tham Theung, the upper cave, lies higher up the rock face. Both are about 25 km upstream from Luang Prabang and are one of the best-known excursions from the town.
What makes the caves remarkable is what they hold. Hundreds of small Buddha figures, most of them carved in wood, stand crowded on ledges and shelves along the rock walls, many worn, cracked or missing pieces. The figures show the Buddha in many different postures: seated in meditation, teaching, walking, sheltered by the naga, calling for rain, and lying down at the moment of passing into nirvana. Some visitors call the site the cave of a thousand Buddhas. The walls also carry rock art, which a 2018 study in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia recorded and analysed.
The appeal is the setting and the collection rather than any size. You don't come here for stalactites or long passages. The pleasure is in climbing up from the river landing into a dim rock chamber lined with small offerings, with the wide brown Mekong below.
Getting there
Luang Prabang is about 18 km away as the crow flies. The usual approach is by boat up the Mekong, a trip of about two hours upstream from the town centre. Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) is about 17 km from the caves.
Plan your visit
We have no confirmed visit data yet. Once it is confirmed, this block also carries the date it was checked.
Nearby places
- Wat Xieng Thong 18.2 km · temple
On these lists
From the encyclopaedia
Near Pak Ou the Tham Ting and the Tham Theung are caves overlooking the Mekong River, 25 km to the north of Luang Prabang, Laos. They are a group of two caves on the west side of the Mekong river, about two hours upstream from the centre of Luang Prabang, and are frequently visited by tourists.
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