The Cave of Phalluses in Krabi or the Legend of the Goddess Pranang

It’s difficult, if not almost impossible, to calculate how many beaches there are in Thailand. However, only one of them – Pranang – has an especially exotic legend. Familiarity with it many people begin with a search query “the phallus cave in Krabi. The beach of Pranang is located on the Peninsula Reilly, not far from the town Ao Nang, which until recently was a small fishing village on the shores of the Andaman Sea. Thirsty for exotic “with spice” tourists are taken there by longtails or boats.

In literal translation from Thai the word “Phra Nang” means “princess goddess”.

The Raleigh Peninsula and Pranang Beach are associated with local superstition and have been the object of Aboriginal worship for several hundred years. Legend has it that a girl named Pranang, later relegated to the pantheon of pagan gods, took up residence in a grotto under a coastal cliff in times immemorial. The story of why she did this, as well as what attracts pilgrims to the cave in Krabi, is quite interesting.

Legend of Goddess Pranang

The cult of Goddess Pranang is not official, so there are several versions of its origin. According to one, a girl, a princess from India, died in a shipwreck that happened near this beach. Her unburied soul found refuge in a coastal grotto. The other is more like the plot of the song “Uno momento….” According to it, a girl was the wife of a fisherman and there was an unbelievably strong love between them. One day her husband went fishing and did not return from it. The longing Pranang spent days and nights in a cave on the shore. Having lost all hope, she threw herself off a cliff into the sea. All in all, “everyone died…”

View from the cave to Pranang Beach

The Pranang goddess spirit cave in Krabi is a local revered shrine. Therefore, its visit by tourists should not be accompanied by various improprieties. This is despite the fact that the traditional offerings have a very ambiguous (from the European point of view). The fact is that, in addition to flowers, locals carry there a symbolic image of phalluses (in Southeast Asia they are called lingam). There is no consensus on why these objects are chosen by the natives as a gift. And you will not hear an unambiguous answer from anyone. Tourists with a penchant for sarcasm believe that the cave is usually visited by fishermen’s wives who bring ribboned phalluses in the hope that their husbands will not forget them in their long wanderings and have an affair on the side. But that’s just a theory, nothing more.

Phalluses in Thai traditionLingamas are one of the sacred symbols of Hinduism, as a reflection of the divine reproductive power. It is most often used in its variant, Shivaism, because it is an “attribute” of the masculine essence of the god Shiva. This deity also has another, feminine, side, yoni. As a rule, one “grows” out of the other. If you see something like this on Pranang Beach in Krabi, you should not express violent emotion. It is not polite, because in Hinduism, the symbolic trinity of Linga-yona-murti is considered to be the source of life.
The Phallus Cave in Krabi is actually locally called “Fertility Cave.” Local fishermen visit it, for example, before they go fishing. For them, it is also the embodiment of success and courage. And girls and women come to ask for a good marriage, a long-awaited pregnancy or a successful delivery. The power of local superstition is very great. Almost all the people of Krabi province are absolutely convinced in the power of the spirit living in this cave, and its ability to fulfill any request. You only need to know how to ask. And be sure to carry a symbolic phallus decorated with ribbons and flowers as an offering.
If carrying a phallus moulage around with you seems completely inappropriate and ridiculous, try addressing the deity without gifts. Fold your hands in a crescent shape around your chin, act humble, and make a half bow. You may be reached.

How to get to Pranang Beach

Local people don’t mind tourists visiting Pranang Beach and the phallus cave. So it is not too difficult to get there.

On foot you can reach the Phallus Cave in Krabi from Raleigh West or Raleigh East beaches.

Boat from the central pier of Ao Nang village. The first boat leaves at 8:00, the last one at 18:00. The price of the trip from 100 baht.

Boat from Ao Nam Mao pier in Krabi. Usually used by locals, so the price is quite symbolic. They take you to the pier on Raleigh East. From here you walk (about a kilometer).
Organized from Phuket, Phi Phi or Ao Nang. Pranang is part of a visit to the islands of Poda, Tub and Chken, one of the most popular excursions in Krabi.

Phallus Cave on map of Krabi province

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