Tham Khao Nang Chi

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Tham Khao Nang Chi in Phatthalung is a natural limestone cave and nationally registered historic site located at Moo 4, Ban Thung Kha, Phanom Wang Subdistrict, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province. The cave is known for its calm, shaded, and cool atmosphere, with many bats living inside. More importantly, the cave area contains ancient mural paintings and Thai inscriptions inside Tham Phra Khao Nang Chi, making it one of the most meaningful cave heritage sites in Phatthalung.

 

Khao Nang Chi sits in a rural landscape of Phanom Wang Subdistrict, where villages, temples, orchards, rubber plantations, agricultural land, and limestone hills are closely connected. Unlike large commercial attractions, this site offers a quieter and more reflective experience. Visitors come not only to see a cave but also to understand a place where geology, Buddhist art, inscriptions, local legend, and cave ecology come together within one limestone hill.

 

The cave has a calm and cool interior, but it is also home to many bats. Visitors should therefore enter quietly and carefully. Bats are part of the cave ecosystem and should not be disturbed by loud noise, strong lights, flash photography, or unnecessary movement near resting areas. A cave with wildlife is a sensitive environment, and responsible behavior helps preserve the site for both nature and future visitors.

 

According to the Fine Arts Department, Khao Nang Chi is a limestone hill in the Chai Buri rock formation. It was formed during the Triassic period, around 210–245 million years ago. The hill runs north to south, about 980 meters long and 470 meters wide, with its highest point about 136 meters above mean sea level. This geological background explains the presence of limestone cavities, cave chambers, rock walls, and surfaces that later became important for murals and inscriptions.

 

Tham Phra Khao Nang Chi is located on the western side toward the southern part of Khao Nang Chi. It is a limestone cave with two connected chambers. The first chamber has an entrance on the southeast side, about 6 meters wide and 10 meters high, with a depth of about 43 meters to the back of the cave. The second chamber has an entrance on the west side, about 3 meters wide and 5 meters high, with a depth of about 10 meters to the connecting point inside the cave.

 

Inside Tham Phra Khao Nang Chi, mural paintings are found on 10 wall areas. They are painted in red and yellow with black outlines, covering a total area of about 24.065 square meters. The paintings depict stories related to past Buddhas and the reclining Buddha. Their artistic style shows the influence of late Ava-period Burmese art, contemporary with the middle Ayutthaya period. This makes the cave a valuable source for understanding artistic connections across the southern peninsula.

 

The cave walls also contain Thai-language inscriptions in Thai script from the Ayutthaya period. Important words and phrases include “No Kamma,” interpreted as an abbreviation of “Mano Kamma,” a concept related to wholesome conduct, and a phrase referring to the Buddha as the conqueror of Mara. These inscriptions add historical and religious depth to the cave, showing that the site was not only decorated with paintings but also used as a space for written Buddhist expression.

 

In 2021, the Fine Arts Department registered Khao Nang Chi as a national historic site and defined its protected boundary at 154 rai and 14.98 square wah. This status makes the cave and surrounding hill a protected heritage area. Visitors should not touch murals, inscriptions, cave walls, or natural rock surfaces. Flash photography near paintings should be avoided, and no writing, scraping, or physical contact with heritage surfaces should occur.

 

Local legend gives Khao Nang Chi an additional cultural layer. The story tells of a female ascetic or celestial being living in the cave, caring for humans and weaving cloth to offer to Phra Si Ariya. On full-moon and new-moon nights, villagers believed they could hear the sound of weaving from the cave. The story also tells of children who once received food from the ascetic until disrespectful behavior caused her to close the cave door and disappear from human contact. This legend reflects how deeply the cave is tied to local belief and community memory.

 

A visit to Tham Khao Nang Chi should therefore be understood through several dimensions: limestone cave nature, bat ecology, ancient mural paintings, Ayutthaya-period inscriptions, national historic-site status, and local legend. Seeing all these layers together helps visitors appreciate why this cave is more than a cool and shaded natural stop. It is one of Phatthalung’s important intersections of nature, religion, art, and community memory.

 

Visitors should prepare properly before entering the cave area. Wear shoes with good grip, bring a flashlight or a fully charged phone, and walk slowly. Use light only as needed and avoid shining it directly at bats or close to ancient paintings. Do not enter dark or unclear sections without local guidance. Cave floors may be damp, uneven, or slippery, especially during the rainy season.

 

Families with children should supervise them closely. Children should not run, climb rocks, touch cave walls, or disturb wildlife. Elderly visitors and people with limited mobility should remain in easier-access sections unless the path is clearly safe. Natural caves differ from built tourist walkways, and conditions can change with weather and season.

 

Recommended activities include careful cave walking, observing the shaded limestone landscape, learning about the murals and inscriptions from a safe distance, listening to the local legend, observing bat ecology without disturbance, taking non-flash atmosphere photographs, and combining the visit with nearby cultural attractions in Khuan Khanun.

 

The best time to visit is during the day, especially from morning to afternoon, when there is enough light around the entrance and surrounding area. Visiting late in the evening or after heavy rain is not recommended. If signs restrict access, gates are closed, or certain areas are under care, visitors should follow on-site guidance and avoid entering closed sections.

 

Getting There is by car to Moo 4, Ban Thung Kha, Phanom Wang Subdistrict, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province. For navigation, search for “Khao Nang Chi Phanom Wang Khuan Khanun Phatthalung” or “Tham Khao Nang Chi Phatthalung.” If the map result is unclear, use Phanom Wang Subdistrict Administrative Organization as a secondary reference point and ask local residents for the final access route.

 

When entering Ban Thung Kha community, drive carefully, avoid blocking local roads, homes, gardens, or agricultural areas, and keep noise low. Tham Khao Nang Chi is both a natural site and a registered historic site in a community setting. Respectful travel behavior helps protect the site and maintain good relations with local residents.

 

Tham Khao Nang Chi can be combined with important nearby attractions in Khuan Khanun. Wat Khao Or is a major historic and sacred site associated with southern knowledge traditions. Tai Nod Market offers local food, community products, and a green-market atmosphere. Travelers with more time can continue to Khuan Khanun Market, Wat Khian Bang Kaeo, Thale Noi, or Khao Ok Thalu to create a route that includes caves, historic sites, local culture, wetlands, and city landmarks.

 

In summary, Tham Khao Nang Chi is one of Phatthalung’s most significant cave sites. It combines a quiet and cool limestone cave, many bats, ancient murals influenced by late Ava-period Burmese art, Ayutthaya-period Thai inscriptions, local legend, and national historic-site status. With respectful behavior, daytime travel, careful walking, and proper preparation, the cave offers a meaningful nature-and-culture experience in Khuan Khanun District.

 

 

A: Tham Khao Nang Chi is located at Moo 4, Ban Thung Kha, Phanom Wang Subdistrict, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province.

 

A: Tham Khao Nang Chi is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: It is a calm and cool limestone cave with many bats, ancient murals, Ayutthaya-period inscriptions, and national historic-site status.

 

A: Yes. Khao Nang Chi is registered and protected by the Fine Arts Department, with a protected area of 154 rai and 14.98 square wah.

 

A: Visitors can see two connected limestone cave chambers, ancient mural paintings on 10 wall areas, Thai inscriptions from the Ayutthaya period, and a cave ecosystem with many bats.

 

A: Bring non-slip shoes, a flashlight or fully charged phone, drinking water, and modest clothing suitable for a cave and historic site.

 

A: Do not disturb bats, touch murals, use flash near paintings, write on cave walls, litter, or enter closed or unsafe areas.

 

A: Nearby places include Wat Khao Or, Tai Nod Market, Khuan Khanun Market, Wat Khian Bang Kaeo, Thale Noi, and Khao Ok Thalu.