Many visitors to Phra Nang beach simply go there to soak up the sun, laze on the white sand and admire the stunning Krabi scenery. Flanked to its left and right by the neighbouring beaches of East and West Railay, Phra Nang commands an enviable location on the tip of the headland looking out on the emerald expanse of the Andaman Sea. However, some local people visiting Phra Nang aren’t just there to admire the surroundings. They are there to make offerings to Phra Nang herself, the Princess Goddess who is believed to reside in the cave underneath the cliff at one end of the beach. The legend and mystery of Phra Nang goes back many centuries and the belief in the Princess Goddess still remains strong amongst local people. Phra Nang Cave (Princess Cave as it is sometimes shown on maps) is a sacred place and should be treated with respect by anybody visiting there.
So who is Phra Nang? There are different theories about Phra Nang and how she came to be associated with this particular cave in Krabi. One legend says that an Indian princess was killed in a shipwreck offshore and her ghost occupied the cave. Another story says that Phra Nang was the wife of a local fisherman. One day her husband set out to sea but never returned. According to this story, the woman lived out the rest of her years living in the cave and looking out to sea waiting for her husband to come back.
Fishermen and boatmen still make offerings in the form of incense and flowers to ensure a safe journey. More curious though, are the phallic symbols or lingams that are in prominence at the entrance to the cave (pictured).
Lingams are a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva and are associated with fertility and virility. In Thailand, Hindu and animist beliefs are incorporated alongside Buddhism. Over the centuries, Phra Nang cave has become associated with fertility and the lingams placed here take the form of carved wooden penises. Local folklore says that if somebody carves a wooden lingam and releases it at high tide anywhere along the Krabi coast, it will eventually end up in Phra Nang cave.
From Ao Nang, longtail boats can take you directly to Phra Nang beach. Journey time is a little over 10 minutes. If you arrive at West Railay you will need to walk through to East Railay and then follow the path along the beach and around the base of the cliff (towards the Rayavadee Resort) until you reach Phra Nang beach.
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Photos © Thaizer
