ถ้ำพระนาง

Tham Phra Nang - Princess Cave


Useful Information

photography
Tham Phra Nang, Krabi, Thailand. Public Domain.
Location: Phra Nang Beach, Krabi
Open: no restrictions.
[2020]
Fee: free.
[2020]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: n/a
Dimension:  
Guided tours: n/a
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Tham Phra Nang, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

photography
Phra Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand. Public Domain.
photography
Phra Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand. Public Domain.

ถ้ำพระนาง (Tham Phra Nang - Princess Cave) is located on the east side of Tham Phra Nang Beach, on an peninsula between Krabi and Au Nang. It can only be reached by boat from Au Nang. The day trips with the typical Thai long boats are quite popular. The cave on the other hand is for most beach goers of little interest. It is more or less an overhanging cliff face with a small shrine. The cave contains a wooden phallic symbol of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god. It has become a sort of shrine over the years, fishermen are making oblations before going fishing in order to bless the trip for a god catch and a save return.

The beach and the cave are both named after a woman, which is represented by a small wooden statue in the cave.

A long time ago, a childless couple made a deal with King Naga, he granted them a daughter in exchange for a marriage between his son and the daughter when they came of age. The daughter named Phra Nang, grew up to be a beautiful woman and was engaged to another man. Furious by the broken promise, King Naga crashed the wedding and started a brawl. A powerful hermit who lived nearby felt disturbed by the uproar, and cast a spell turning everyone and everything into stones. People and objects turned into islands which were named after them. The bridal house turned into Phra Nang Cave where locals believe she has rested since.

The moral of the folklore for Thais is “Keep your promise and don’t disturb a powerful hermit.” Quite interesting is that the King is named Naga. Nagas are divine or semi-divine deities in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. They are half-human half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala) and can occasionally take human form. In some way they are like dragon shifters in fantasy. Thats probably the reason why the King Naga was able to make the woman pregnant, being a dragon. And probably a reason why Phra Nang was not very happy to marry his son.