Rocks grew from the ground like a tree and hung down from the top of the cave chandeliers.
Legend has it that a huntsman was following the trail of a wounded animal. Some say it was a deer, others say, a rabbit. No matter what it was, it led him into a cave. Inside, the huntsman found not only the animal he was looking for, but a grand piece of art that Mother Nature had been crafting for thousands of years. Rocks grew from the ground like a tree and hung down from the top of the cave chandeliers.
The cave is now called Lawa Cave and it is located in Karnchanaburi, Thailand. It is known for its beautiful stalagmites and stalactites and is a popular attraction for tourists. My family and I were excited to see beautiful cave when we drove through what could have been ten minutes into Karnchanaburi forest. Once we arrived, however, we were informed by the rangers that the cave was up on a mountain. We needed to climb 150 stairs and the cave itself was around two kilometers deep. My mother, along with our 5-year-old dog, decided to wait at the foot of the mountain.
My father, my sister and I agreed to make our trip worthwhile and started climbing the stairs. We finally made it to the cave where the rangers did their best to pave a walkway without disturbing its natural state. Large pieces of rocks were lit with tiny tungsten bulbs to lead the way. The cave was divided into different rooms, named after the important stalagmites and stalactites in each of them. The music room, for example, got its name from a hollow stalactite that resonated different music notes when knocked in different places.
At the end of the day, I had never seen real life stalagmites and stalactites before and they were breathtakingly beautiful. So when you are on vacation, step out of your comfort zone for a little while. It’s these adventures that make life worth living.
Article written by Panarat Anamwatha.
