Tham Tu PuTham Tu Pu at a Glance
The Tham Tu Pu limestone cave network lies a couple of kilometres northwest of Chiang Rai city, across the Mae Fah Luang Bridge. Many caves in this strikingly beautiful area of limestone outcrops have been used for centuries as Buddhist shrines, and holy images are still carved from the living rock today.
At the gate to the caves sit statues of monkeys with their paws over their eyes in the classic “see no evil” pose. Fronted by a carved cliff face, the narrow cave entrance is stepped and leads through a rock passageway to marble-floored pavilions with carved stone and gilt-bronze Buddhist and Brahman images. There are three levels; from the open top level, visitors enjoy a fine view over the surrounding countryside.
The caves have some natural light, especially in the afternoon, along with a colony of bats in a small chamber behind the glowing carved stone Buddha with its golden robe and altar in the main pavilion. A torch is needed to find the lovely little gilded laughing Buddha at the back of the cave. At the foot of the cliff stands the Tham Tu Pu Meditation Centre.
Nearby Attractions to Tham Tu Pu
Best Time to Visit Tham Tu Pu
Best visited in the dry months when trails and cave passages are safe; guide up-to-date weather info before entering.
Weather & Climate near Tham Tu Pu
Tham Tu Pu's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 13°C to 36°C. Abundant rainfall (1400 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 13° - 29° | 21° | 8 mm | mostly sunny | 70% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 high | 11.0h |
| February | Ideal | 14° - 32° | 23° | 12 mm | mostly sunny | 60% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.4h |
| March | Excellent | 17° - 34° | 26° | 25 mm | mostly sunny | 55% | 1.0 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 21° - 36° | 30° | 84 mm | some cloud | 59% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 23° - 34° | 31° | 182 mm | overcast | 72% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.9h |
| June | Acceptable | 23° - 32° | 31° | 161 mm | overcast | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.2h |
| July | Acceptable | 23° - 31° | 31° | 237 mm | overcast | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 13.1h |
| August | Acceptable | 23° - 31° | 27° | 297 mm | overcast | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 2.0 very high | 12.7h |
| September | Acceptable | 22° - 31° | 27° | 221 mm | overcast | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 2.0 very high | 12.1h |
| October | Very Good | 21° - 30° | 26° | 108 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.6h |
| November | Excellent | 17° - 29° | 23° | 48 mm | some cloud | 78% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.1h |
| December | Excellent | 14° - 27° | 21° | 17 mm | some cloud | 75% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 high | 10.9h |
How to Get to Tham Tu Pu
Tham Tu Pu is reached from nearby towns by local roads-motorbike or car are the usual options. Visitors should check with local tourism offices or guesthouses for the simplest route and consider hiring a guide for the final, less-well-marked stretch.
Tips for Visiting Tham Tu Pu
- Hire a local guide for route-finding and to learn the cave's local stories.
- Check recent rainfall; passages can flood quickly in sustained rain.
- Wear a headlamp and shoes with good grip-mud and slick rock are common.