Pak Ou Caves

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The Pak Ou cave complex is the next stop. Pak Ou Caves is a Buddhist cave complex located 25 kilometers from Luang Prabang on the Mekong River. The "Caves of a Thousand Buddhas" are also known as that. The cave complex consists of the Lower Cave, Tham Ting, and the Upper Cave, Tham Theung, which are located above the Mekong at the mouth of a big tributary of the Mekong, Nam Ou River. The caves are not accessible by road; instead, visitors must travel upstream by boat from Luang Prabang. The caves are known for its large collection of Buddha statues, most of which are made of wood. Locals and pilgrims have been bringing them here for generations. The Lower Cave (Tham Ting) has about 2,500 Buddha statues, while the Upper Cave (Tham Theung) has about 1,500. In reality, many caves may be found in the mountains that have grown up surrounding the Mekong. They are thought to represent echoes of early Buddhist building, with the oldest cave dating back to the third century BC. Those that are part of the Pak Ou cave complex, however, are the most well-known. Pak Ou caves are appealing for more reasons than only the ease with which they may be reached. They are respected sanctuaries and one-of-a-kind natural objects, among other things. The Pak Ou complex was a form of religious temple even before the arrival of Buddhism. The people of Laos used to worship the spirits of nature back then (or Phi). In their minds, the caves served as a protective barrier, guarding the Mekong. The river was also seen as a sign of life. These caverns became the repository of revered Buddha figures after Buddhism became a religion. They were brought in by residents from the surrounding villages and left in Pak Ou. The Pak Ou complex houses a variety of figurines, large and little, constructed of various materials such as stone, metal, wood, and even fabric. It's tough to estimate their exact number, but it's around four thousand. The cave complex was taken over by the royal family in the 16th century. Every new year, the rulers' married pair went to the caves to contemplate and pray. This went on until 1975, the year the royal family was expelled. Photo by Pavel Revenkov