Pak Ou Buddha Caves

Pak Ou caves, Mekong River, Laos – 2018. The Pak Ou caves are a Lao holy site dating back hundreds of years. There are two caves; the lower cave is called Tham Ting and the upper cave Tham Theung. They are located on the Mekong River immediately opposite from where the Nam Ou River flows in. The only way to get to the caves is by boat and the lower cave is easily accessible from the river, has a large entrance but does not go very far into the cliff. The upper cave is much higher up the cliff but there is a good set of steps leading to it. The entrance is much smaller and you need a light to get to the inner part of the cave where most of the Buddhas are.

The entrance to the lower Pak Ou Buddha Cave as seen from the river. The Mekong River can flood higher than the top of the white wall.

A few of the hundreds of Buddhas in the Pak Ou Caves

The lower cave – Tham Ting

The lower cave – Tham Ting. Most of the Buddhas are visible by the light entering the large entrance to the cave

A few of the hundreds of Buddhas in the Pak Ou Caves

The lower cave – Tham Ting

A few of the hundreds of Buddhas in the Pak Ou Caves

The entrance to Tham Ting

A small seven headed Naga outside the upper cave at Pak Ou

A life-size figure in a grotto near the entrance to Tham Theung, the upper cave at Pak Ou

Buddhas in Tham Theung, the upper café at Pak Ou. These are larger than most of the ones in the lower cave.

Buddhas in Tham Theung, the upper cave at Pak Ou

Buddhas in Tham Theung, the upper cave at Pak Ou. It was pitch black inside this cave

A large Buddha seated at the entrance to Tham Theung

The limestone cliffs on the Mekong River with the entrance to Tham Ting just above the water level