Tham Pha

{{Short description|Cave in Laos}}

File:Buddha cave, Laos.jpg

Tham Pha, also known as Buddha Cave, is a cave in Khammouane Province, Laos. The Karst limestone cave was only discovered in April 2004 by a local farmer who upon entering it found a treasure trove of 229 Buddha statues, estimated to be over 450 years old. {{cite web|url=http://www.footprinttravelguides.com/asia/laos/central-provinces/thakhek-and-around/|title=Tham Pha (Buddha Cave)|publisher=Footprint Travel Guides|accessdate=20 July 2012}} It is believed that the Buddha statues were hidden to prevent them being looted by invading Haw peoples.{{cite book|last1=Burke|first1=Andrew|last2=Vaisutis|first2=Justine|title=Laos|url=https://archive.org/details/laos00burk|url-access=registration|accessdate=20 July 2012|date=1 August 2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-568-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/laos00burk/page/181 181]}} The largest Buddha statue is seated at the main entrance.

A stupa is located at the nearby Tham That cave.