Pha Poon Cave

Rating: 3.4/5 (11 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

 

Tham Pha Poon Cave, located in Phrao District, Chiang Mai Province, is not simply a cave to walk into for photographs. For the local community, this place has long served as a spiritual space where people communicate with the seasons, especially rain and agricultural cycles. The cave offers natural coolness, humidity, and silence — an atmosphere that invites visitors to slow down and sense how nature here is not a backdrop, but an active part of everyday life.

 

What makes Tham Pha Poon distinctive is the way natural landscape and local faith intertwine. The area is closely associated with Phra That Tham Pha Poon, a revered sacred site, and hosts traditional ceremonies tied to the Lanna lunar calendar. One of the most important periods occurs during the ninth month of the Northern Thai calendar (approximately June), when the community holds rocket-launching rituals, locally known as “Bok Fai,” to ask for rain and celebrate the power of nature. In some years, large-scale Bok Fai competitions are held to honor the sacred relic, creating a vibrant yet meaningful atmosphere.

 

Another cultural layer that gives depth to Tham Pha Poon is a ritual that has gradually faded from practice: the Pla Chon Procession. In the past, villagers shaped snakehead fish from flour, paraded them through the community, and released them at the cave entrance as a symbolic act of asking for rainfall. This ritual reflects an older worldview in which symbolic gestures were used to communicate directly with the sky, seeking rain not for celebration but for survival — to nourish rice fields, gardens, and livelihoods.

 

Throughout the year, the local community continues to observe many traditional Lanna festivals that structure village life. These include Yi Peng (Lantern Festival), Buddhist Lent and End of Lent, Pi Mai Muang (Northern Thai New Year or Songkran), Tan Kuai Salak (merit-making with offering baskets), Poi Luang (major temple festivals), and the annual bathing ceremony of Phra That Tham Pha Poon on the fifteenth waning day of the eighth Northern lunar month. During this event, Bok Fai competitions are traditionally held to honor the sacred relic.

 

Beyond living traditions, the area also carries traces of the past. Nearby is a site believed by villagers to be the remains of an abandoned temple known as Wat Huai Hia. Although no prominent structures remain, the name and stories endure as a reminder that this land once supported religious life and communal rituals. These memories form an invisible but important layer of the cultural landscape.

 

Caves can be beautiful yet demanding environments. Visitors should be aware of slippery surfaces, especially during the rainy season, limited light, and high humidity. Proper footwear, a flashlight, and respectful behavior are essential. As this is a sacred space for the local community, visitors are encouraged to keep noise low, avoid climbing or disturbing natural features, and leave no trace behind.

 

Getting There Tham Pha Poon Cave can be reached by driving to Phrao District and continuing toward Khuean Phak Subdistrict via local roads. Navigation apps are recommended, and extra travel time should be allowed for narrow or winding sections, particularly during the rainy season. Visitors planning to attend the Bok Fai festival should expect increased traffic and follow community guidance for parking and access.

 

 

 

A: The late rainy season through winter offers comfortable weather. Visitors interested in cultural experiences may prefer June, when Bok Fai rituals take place.

 

A: It generally falls around June, though exact dates may vary according to the lunar calendar. Checking with local sources before visiting is recommended.

 

A: It was a traditional rainmaking ritual in which villagers shaped snakehead fish from flour, paraded them, and released them at the cave entrance to symbolically request rainfall.

 

A: The cave is safe for casual visits near the entrance, but surfaces can be slippery. Visitors should bring proper footwear, a flashlight, and avoid entering deep or unlit areas.

 

A: Visitors are encouraged to respect local customs, follow community instructions, avoid obstructing ritual areas, and help keep the site clean.