Exploring Buddha Images Cave, Wat Tham Pra
The north of Thailand is a beautiful place to explore. Just outside of Chiang Rai located on the edge of the Mae Kok River along a quiet stretch of road is the Buddha Images caves. It's known locally as Wat Tham Pra. I find it along a quiet road by a pretty clear sign that is in English and Thai. I park my bike under the shade and head up a couple of stairs to the main entrance, I find a lone monk inside. As I enter I'm not sure if I interrupted his reflection or boredom. I see his flip flops by the door and bend down to remove my shoes, despite my hesitance as there is condensation damping the floor throughout the cave itself. I walk inside and the monk is sitting to the right and I see the normal temple scene - if there is such thing as a temple scene. Gold statues, incense etc. A couple of steps inside I see that the it opens up and it's bigger than i initially thought.
I've never been in a cave like this, it's like most Buddhist Temples, with an interesting backdrop. Stone walls with moss on them set the mood. It's noticeably cooler inside from the heat of the afternoon sun, and it smells like bats are certainly nearby. The monk in the corner quietly watches me wander around.
After I get my shoes back on and exit the main cave a local Tuk Tuk driver eager to make sure I don't miss out tells me to go see the big Buddha. Happy that I didn't overlook it, I head out around the corner and see a big white Buddha perched at the top of the river. Along the way I pass little monk statues that on first glance give you a start as they initially look like real people. All in all I spent a relaxing 20 minutes here, and see 2 other small groups of people exploring. Probably because this secret place hasn't been mentioned in the Lonely Planet or listed as an attraction on Trip Advisor. It would be a great place for a picnic on a beautiful day.
Getting here: Taking a motorbike it's only about 30 minutes from town, or you can hire a Tuk Tuk as well. It's along the way if you are heading to Ban Ruammit (a Karen hill-tribe Village), and would make a good day trip out of Chiang Rai City to see them both. A more active option would be to cycle here, it's only about 20km from the city centre and the roads are peaceful, uncrowded and pretty flat. I'm heading back this way in a few months and think that this time I'll give it a go by cycling.
