Wat Tham Pha Pu

Terrain

General condition

Prehistoric paintings inside Wat Tham Pha Pu Found at the cliff of Khao Nimit (In the end of the temple) Khao Nimit is a limestone mountain range in the Saraburi rock group (P) of the Permian period. and located on the west bank of the river (The Loei River is about 3.5 kilometers to the east)

The cliff shed faces east. There are 4 caves along the cliff line. The first cave found is the lowest cave or Tham Pha Pu. at the foot of the hill below the ground level Next to the mouth of the cave to the right (south side) there is a cement staircase leading up to the Buddha's Footprint and Tham Phra. which is about 20 meters higher than the ground below Behind the iron door, the walkway is in a overgrown forest)

The area of ​​the cliff in front of the mouth of Tham Phra (Before reaching Tham Phra) appears prehistoric paintings. The general condition of the cliffs in this area is the cliffs at the bottom that are slightly tilted or examined. The floor of the cliff is about 3-5 meters wide, and the part adjacent to the cliff about 2 meters is poured as a cement floor.

In front of the cliff, there is a wooden hut (abandoned) and a shed with a zinc roof, about 2-3 meters high, built adjacent to the cliff shed. There is also a replica of the Buddha's footprint enshrined in a wooden pavilion in front of a cliff in the cliff floor that extends into a cape. (More cement floors are poured in the Buddha Footprint pavilion)

The walls of the rock sheds in this area contain many traces of modern people's writings. Some of them were waving cement. Most of the writings are Buddhist principles and reminders. Some of them are written by tourists who visit.

The condition of the current painting Somewhat oblivious to obliterate

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Loei river

Geological conditions

Prehistoric paintings inside Wat Tham Pha Pu Found at the cliff of Khao Nimit (In the end of the temple) Khao Nimit is a limestone mountain range in the Saraburi rock group (P) of the Permian period.

Archaeological Era

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Tham Pha Pu is a Rat temple. under the Thammayut sect According to the history of the temple, it was built in 1932 and was granted Wisung Kham Sima in 1968.

History of Wat Tham Pha Pu Originally a small monastery built in 1932 until 1952, Luang Pu Khamdee Paphaso brought disciples from Khon Kaen to come to live in the Buddhist Lent and build permanent objects such as a pavilion, a bell tower, a cubicle and set up as Wat Thammayut.

Important archaeological evidence within the temple includes prehistoric paintings. Which the Fine Arts Department has ever surveyed since 1983, 6 images, about 3-5 meters high from the ground, all 6 images (Phayao Khemnak 1991 :63-66) are:

Picture 1:Three parallel lines, approximately 1 meter high.

Figure 2. Two solid triangles joined by parallel lines.

Picture 3 A rectangular image containing a solid triangle.

Figure 4:A solid line perpendicular to a horizontal solid line, 49 cm high.

Picture 5:A solid triangle, height 74 cm.

Figure 6 Mixed wavy and straight circles

A survey conducted in November 2013 found only two color paintings that were still noticeable. Other images are so faded that they are difficult to notice or not noticeable at all. The things that destroy and disturb the paintings are both natural and man-made, such as sunlight, rain, and limestone that coats the cliffs from the conduction of water. soot and water marks on the surface of the cliff and the writing on the walls of the cliffs by modern people.

The 2 color paintings found are Picture 2 and Picture 3 that the Fine Arts Department surveyed. It's a dark red painting.

Picture 2 is a picture of two solid triangles connected at an angle (hourglass-like shape), with straight lines parallel to each other on both sides. There is a curved line above. This 2nd image is starting to fade a lot.

Picture 3 A rectangle with partially solid color painted until it forms a triangle, both sides are parallel straight lines. The bottom line is written as a jagged line. The 3rd picture is so blurry that it is almost unnoticeable.

The other images are not noticeable. Or noticed but not sure if it's a color painting or not?

In addition, within the temple there is also a museum of Luang Pu Khamdee Paphaso, whose construction history is After Luang Pu Khamdee passed away in 1984, Phra Ajarn Sithon Silatano, the abbot and his disciples as well as those who have faith Together they built the Museum of Luang Pu Khamdee Paphaso in 1986 and it was completed in 1988.

The museum is built entirely of marble. It is located on a 2-storey base with stairs leading up to the east. The building's plan is octagonal. But the shape of the building and the roof make a mondop shape. There are entrances to the pavilion on 4 sides, which are east, west, north and south. The door panels are carved with flora motifs, while the other 4 sides without doors are fake windows. The window arch is a spire. as well as marble tetrahedron roof Turtle scale clay tile thatching Around the pediment there is a bouquet of flowers, a rose leaf and a swan's tail, the top of which is an octagonal pagoda.

Inside the museum building enshrines a statue of Phra Kru Yanthatsi (Luang Pu Khamdee Paphaso) on a marble base on the west side. facing east In front, there is the ashes of Luang Pu in a glass pan covered with clear glass. Behind the statue hang a photograph of Luang Pu Khamdee above the west door.

At the wall of the building on all 4 sides (the side without the door or the side that is a pseudo-window) is drilled into a rectangular box like a cabinet covered with clear glass. Inside the cabinet exhibits the ashes, hair, ashes and a brief history of Luang Pu Khamdee. including the Buddha's relics, relics that are believed to belong to the Lord Buddha and his disciples.

Inside the temple, there is also a chedi of Luang Pu Khamdee Paphaso at the front of the entrance of Wat Tham Pha Pu. Built in 1993 as a memorial site for the cremation of Luang Pu Kham Dee, it was completed in 1994. The chedi is also made of marble. Inside there is a display of Attabrikhan. and there are portraits of Luang Pu Sao, Kantasilo, Luang Pu Man, Phuritto, Luang Pu Sing, Khantayakamo, and Luang Pu Khamdee Paphaso.