The Pak Ou Caves in Laos exist in a rock space on the side of a peak/cliff, along the Mekong River. A short, fun boat ride is required to get there. Once you watch, you to will believe there could be 4000 Buddha statues housed here. There are Buddhas EVERYWHERE.
This video shows the main chamber of the Lower Pak Ou Cave. It’s easy to get to upon arrival and, as you can see, there are thousands of Buddhas here. It’s fun looking for all of their hiding places.
Climbing around the cave to do a little exploring isn’t terribly difficult, but was too much for blind man Tim. So I did this part solo.
The Upper Pak Ou Cave is a somewhat challenging climb up a lot of stairs along the mountainside. Nothing harrowing, though the pavement is often cracked.
The biggest challenge in going to the upper cave is the relentless pack of kids asking for money. They literally wouldn’t get out of the way of the partially blind guy trying to climb the stairs.
Other than that, it’s a nice trip. Oh, and you need a flashlight for the upper cave as it’s really pitch black. If you forget yours, you can rent one at the cave entrance.
FAQ
The Pak Ou caves are a group of limestone caves located on the Mekong River in Laos, about 25 kilometers upstream from the city of Luang Prabang. The caves have been a religious site for centuries and are known for the thousands of Buddha statues that have been placed there by local people.
The most popular way to get to the Pak Ou caves is by taking a boat tour from Luang Prabang. It usually involves a drive to a point upriver where you’ll board a motorized canoe for a 15-minute ride across the river. The tour typically takes around 2-3 hours and includes a visit to the caves and the surrounding limestone cliffs.
Visitors can expect to see thousands of Buddha statues of various sizes and styles, many of which have been placed there over the centuries by local people. The caves are also known for their stunning views of the surrounding limestone cliffs and the Mekong River.
There’s an upper and a lower cave. If you choose to visit the upper cave it’s very dark and you will need a flashlight. If you don’t have your own you can rent one at the cave. The lower cave by far has the larger number of Buddha statues, large and small.
Yes, there is an entrance fee to visit the caves, which is typically around 10,000 kip (about $1.25 USD). The fee is used to maintain the caves and ensure that they remain accessible to visitors.
The caves have been a religious site for centuries, with people visiting to place Buddha statues and make offerings to the spirits believed to reside in the caves.
Video Transcript
Okay, seeing this, in the Pak Ou Caves, I would believe that there are four thousand Buddhas. It’s like a whole army of Buddhas, and they are stuck in all sorts of little nooks and crannies.
It’s actually giving you a lot of light on this.
See, there’s a little one right there. I know it’s getting a little grainy, but they’re tucked up in there.
And there’s a little set of them way back there, and look up on the shelf.
All those little bits of gold are Buddhas.
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