Ao Noi Caves

My latests unseen Thailand trip found me at Ao Noi just north of the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan spending a pleasant couple of hours exploring the Ao Noi Caves in the limestone outcrop that overlooks Ao Khan Kradai Bay and is directly behind Wat Ao Noi.

I had been to the site on a couple of occasions before but had failed to find the large limestone cavern that purportedly houses a reclining Buddha and other Buddhist artefacts.

So yesterday suitably attired and equipped with a good flash light I headed back to the Buddhist shrine at the north end of Wat Ao Noi that is just below the first cave I had discovered on the site last year. Ignoring the steps that lead up to this cave I headed straight on along the paved path that seemed to head towards the top of the mountain.

It was a stiff climb that involved many flights of stairs and inclined paved walkways that seemed to barely cling to the side of the limestone crags in places but eventually I reached the top and a small sala(shelter) that concealed what appeared to be another cave entrance.

Exploring further I found the entrance led down some steep steps and across a small area strewn with large boulders before it opened into a large cavern.  At this point the area has some natural light from the sink-hole that has formed near the entrance and I could clearly see part of a large reclining Buddha in front of me.

The Buddha image was about 6/7 metre long with the head portion disappearing into the gloom of the caves interior. As my eyes adjusted to the poor light I could just make out what appeared to be another cavern further into the hillside. Following a faint light source I headed deeper into the interior where I discovered another larger cavern with a small sink-hole in the roof providing some natural light. This cavern appeared empty initially apart from a pile of apparently discarded saffron coloured monks habits lying on the floor.

Switching on my flash-light to take a look into the dark interior I was suddenly presented with another reclining Buddha image directly in font of me, slightly smaller than the first I had discovered, but this one was flanked to the right by a small army of Buddha icons sat in the lotus position and bedecked in saffron robes. Silent guardians hidden in the dark recesses that surrounded the reclining Buddha. I must admit I was awe struck at the sight as my flash light provided an eerie glow in the deep shadows of the caves interior.

Several small siphons ran off the main cavern and there were several more small Buddhist icons placed around these. The cave system was very quiet and I could find no evidence of bats(which I had expected) since there was a lack of  guano which is common in caves occupied by these mammals. There may however have been traces of Swift nests(used to make birds nest soup) high in the caves roof but I couldn’t see any birds so I am not sure.

There is plenty of evidence of human visitors to the cave and as I later discovered there is a crude electric lighting system available but this has to be switched on at the buildings near Wat Ao Noi before you make the climb. Something to perhaps consider if you want to take photographs in the caves.

If you are in the area and reasonably fit( I would rate the climb as moderate) then a visit to the Ao Noi caves is certainly worth the effort.  Aside from the caverns and their contents the route to the top of the hill also affords excellent views of the surrounding area.

Despite the availability of electric light I would recommend you take a good flash light with you as you may not be able to find anyone to switch on the lights for you.

GPS Co-ordinates: 11.863646 + 99.822892

View Aoi Noi Caves location on a map of the area

Related posts:

1. Thailand Blogs Review February 2011