About 30 kilometers beyond the village of San Kampaeng, are the San Kampaeng Hot Springs. However just before the springs it is worth taking the turning to the left to visit the Muang On caves. At the foot of the hill is an attractive Chinese Temple. The road then climbs much higher up the hill to the caves. A narrow scaled road leads up the side of a hill to a small car park. From there you have to climb up a steep naga stairway for about 100 meters before reaching the entrance to the caves. Make sure the lights have been switched on before descending into some big, deep caverns. A large seated Buddha image amidst stalactites creates an impressive effect.
A 30 foot long "Reclining Buddha" named Pro Garoona Sai Yars. Built four years ago, this relaxed 'fella' looks strangely out of place in an environment that most people find "spooky" to say the least.
The basement of the cave is littered with tiny images resting on small niches in the cave wall. These are dwarfed by a
handsome meditative Buddha image that sits high up on a ledge just above a naturally formed basin of water.
But the centerpiece of this spacious grotto is a gigantic stalagmite named "Jedee Mae Nomm Fah". This awesome formation of nature is thirty feet high and ten feet in diameter. Wrapped around it are several brightly colored sashes in red, yellow and
orange, resulting in projecting a surreal effect upon the entire scene, of the cave floor. It is an astounding sight.
A visit to the Muang On caves is only for the fit. Firstly there is a long climb up a Naga staircase from the car park, before reaching the entrance to the caves. The caves are well lit and there are young guides available to point out the major sites, which are also Buddhist shrines. However to reach the famous stalagmite it is necessary to climb down a long concrete staircase, which means it is along climb back up to exit the caves.