ถ้ำ้เอราวัณ

Tham Erawan - Tham Chang - Elephant's Cave


Useful Information

Location: Amphoe Naklang, on the border between Loei and Nong Bua Lamphu provinces.
At the road 210 between Wang Saphung and Nong Bua Lamphu.
Open: All year daily.
[2008]
Fee: free.
[2008]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Tham Erawan, Amphoe Naklang.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

Tham Erawan (Erawan Cave) is also called Tham Chang (Elephant's Cave), because the limestone tower. it is located in. looks like a kneeling elephant. Especially the entrance area is shaped like the forehead of an elephant. Actually Erawan is the name of the mythological elephant Airavata in the Thai language. It is typically depicted as an elephant with three heads. Such a statue can be found at the foot of the stair leading up to the cave.

Like most caves in Thailand, this is not a show cave in our western sense, it is actually a public place and a Buddhist temple. This starts at the entrance where a Buddha statue sits, which can be seen from far away. It is said to be the most important Buddha statue in Thailand. All over the cave various Buddha statues an other images are affixed. And there is a stalakmite which again resembles the elephant Erawan, inside the cave. So feel free to visit the cave and be respectful for the worshippers, like if you would visit a church in western countries.

The cave is located high up in the cliff face of a limestone tower. A winding staircase with 360 steps leads up to the cave portal. Actually we do not know how many steps the staircase has, as we read 107, 360 and 600 steps in different sources. Be aware that it will be a strenuous ascent to the cave and take some water with you. The cave is a through cave with numerous chambers. Both entrances offer a wonderful view over the province of Nong Bua Lamphu.

Rather funny is a political mystery. The Erawan Cave is namesake to Amphoe Erawan which is located adjacent in Loei province. Actually it does not lie in this Amphoe, not even in this province, but in Amphoe Na Wang in Nong Bua Lamphu province. It seems at one point in history the border has been draw new.