Ode to the Phallus

Phra Nang Beach in Southern Thailand is known for its turquoise blue waters, pristine white sand, and incredible towering limestone karsts. Locals, climbers, and beachgoers flock this beautiful spot year round but one thing always manages to catch the eyes of all those who venture to this beautiful strip of silky sand and neon waters. Something the beach is less well known for, The Princess Cave.

The cave is for a lack of other words, full of dicks. The two side by side caves are adorned in hundreds of colorful wooden poles of phallic shape. Everywhere you look stacks of wooden penises lean against the rock walls; piles of red, gold, and brown phallic statues lay among the soft sand.

An eroded plaque in the entrance of the shallow cave reads, “It is believed by the villagers that the spirit of Phranang (Princess Goddess) resides in the cave.”

It goes on to say “[sic] Fishermen, before going out, would pledge Phranang for good luck. With their wishes fulfilled, votive offerings would be made at the shrine. Common gifts are flowers and incense sticks, but usually, the spirits of goddess shall be offered special gifts, the lingams. However, this has nothing to do with the Thai people's religions neither Buddhism nor Islam, that the belief of lingam and holy womb, shall create fertility and prosperity to the whole earth and mankind.”

Legend has it the spirit is an Indian princess who perished in a shipwreck, or that she was the spouse of a fisherman lost at sea, now trapped in the cave. Fishermen go to pay respects at the phallic shrine for prosperity, good fortune, and increased fertility.