Thip Prida Caves

Location: 10.122693, 98.928636

The caves at Thip Prida are about 76 kilometers south of Chumphon town. Take Highway 41 from Chumphon town for some 50km til you reach the Khao Pip intersection (a Tesco store is on the right just before the intersection). Turn right at the intersection onto road No. 4139 heading towards Khao Thalu. After 16km turn left onto road No. 4014, then another left after 7km.

Turn left again after 1km and follow this road round to the cave/temple. The cave is well sign posted from Highway 41.

There are a number of caves and large overhangs in the hill at Thip Prida worth exploring. Best to start at the southern side of the hill (to your left when facing the hill from the car park) where you will find this housed small Buddha.

Not easy to see but just past the Buddha on your right is a small cave which leads you through to a sinkhole.

 

The sinkhole is not that big, I would guess not more than 40m across, but inside it has not been touched and is as nature has left it. Near the centre is this amazing tree.

Venturing back out from this first cave and going under the overhang by some 50m you come to a second cave. A short flight of concrete steps take you up to the entrance. The whole of the cave floor has been cemented and sadly lots of builders rubbish has been left within. However there are a number of passageways to explore and is relatively safe for Kids. You will also find some wooden steps taking you to a small cave at a higher level.

Continuing further along you will encounter a fenced area. Here the Monks have created a place to worship under the overhang.

To the side of this worship area are a set of nice stairs leading to another cave.

Found a number of bats in this small cave and with the low ceiling were easily seen.

Further along the hillside, past the large Prayer Hall you come to this giant Buddha statute. It must stand at least 15m high and has a large roof constructed over to protect it from the elements.

Still following the hillside about 100m after the giant Buddha we came across this sign.

Sadly in the building of a hut the spoil has blocked the entrance to the cave which we believe the bones were found. So we ventured further along and came to another cave with a Buddha statue within.

We found one other cave past this last one but did not venture in for the wooden steps leading in were broken and overgrown.

 

The 'Caves & Caving in Thailand' website has referenced these as Cave's No. CP0098.
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