A new cave boasting stunning natural stalactite formations has been discovered in Khounkham district, Khammuan province.The new Khounkeo Cave was discovered by villagers over two months ago but is not open for visitors, according to the district Information, Culture and Tourism Office.
District authorities recently visited the cave and collected information in order to make a proposal to provincial authorities to open the cave for visitors, said a technical official from the office.
Khounkeo Cave boasts a stunning natural landscape of stalactites inside which is similar to Konglor Cave, according to the authorities’ exploration.
The technical official said they are now waiting for provincial authorities to collect information and conduct a feasibility study for the new tourism destination and attraction. Currently we don’t allow visitors to enter the cave as the path is steep and dangerous, the official added.
We have just received information from district authorities. However, we firstly have to make a proposal to provincial authorities to ask for permission and seek budget funding before going to collect information and conducting a feasibility study for the new tourism destination, said Mr. Somkiet Phineth from the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department.
We are now coordinating with district authorities to collect more information on the cave at first, he added.
Mr. Somkiet said if this cave is opened for visitors, they believed that it will be able to attract more visitors to the district as well as the province and help generate income for local people.
Khounkham is one of ten districts in Khammuan province, which has well-known tourist sites in terms of natural beauty and culture. Currently the number of visitors to the district is about 5-6,000 people per year.
Other highlights in the province are Konglor Cave, which is an amazing 7.5 km-long limestone cave formed by the Hinboun River which flows through the cave year-round; and Tad Nam Sanam waterfall, which is a large twin waterfall cascading off the sandstone massif of Phou Phaman mountain.
It flows all year round and is surrounded by a Provincial Protected Area with pristine tropical forest.
Source: Vientiane Times
