Happiness

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Tham Luang Nang Non - A Visit That Left Us Speechless

Like many around the world, we were deeply moved by the Thai cave rescue — the extraordinary story of 12 young boys and their football coach trapped in the Tham Luang cave system, and the massive international rescue effort that followed. While we followed the story closely when it happened in 2018, we were reintroduced to the story in the summer of last year (May 2024), with the movie Thirteen lives. The movie was gripping and renewed our interest. We watched every documentary, every film, and the overall story was truly fascinating. It was one of those rare moments when the world truly came together — across borders, across cultures — united by compassion, courage, and an unwavering belief in the value of every human life.


What stood out most was the sheer scale of bravery on display. From the divers who risked their lives navigating flooded, pitch-dark cave systems, to the local volunteers who camped out for weeks offering food, prayers, and support. And, of course, the resilience of the boys — who stayed calm and hopeful in the most harrowing of circumstances. 


Last week, during our trip to Thailand, we visited the Tham Luang cave. Standing there, at the entrance of the cave that once gripped the world in anxiety and hope, was an experience that’s hard to put into words. It felt sacred — not just because of the miracle that unfolded there, but because of what it represented: the power of human spirit, teamwork, and selflessness. It was a moment of deep realization — of how fragile yet strong life is, and how deeply interconnected we all are.











We were only able to get to chamber 1, around 200m from the entrance of the cave, and we could already see how wild the cave is and one can only imagine how the divers navigated it when it was fully flooded. The site is beautifully maintained, with memorials, exhibits, and tributes to those who made the rescue possible. Many of the items of the boys, and items from the rescue could also be seen. Walking through the area, we were reminded that heroism doesn’t always come in grand gestures — sometimes it’s found in quiet perseverance, in collective will, and in people showing up for each other when it matters most.


This visit will stay with us for a long time — not just as a memory, but as a reminder of hope, unity, and the indomitable strength of the human spirit.


How did we get there

We took a flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. Its a short flight of around 75 mins, and there are several direct flights from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports of Bangkok. Tham Luang cave is around 50 KM from Chiang Rai airport, and we took a local taxi for a round trip. In case you like to drive, there are several self-drive options as well. The drive from Chiang Rai to Tham Luang gives a glimpse into Thailand’s rural areas, and is truly beautiful. The drive takes around 1 hour. All Taxis and vehicles had to be parked 2-3 KM away from the cave, and we were shuffled into local jeeps at a nominal cost. Locals were quite helpful, and there are enough directions written across the place. 


From Chiang Rai airport, our visit to the cave and trip back to the airport took 4 hours in total. We had our return flight around 9PM, and we explored the town of Chiang Rai. Coming from the bustling city of Bangkok, the calm and faint town of Chiang Rai felt beautiful. We visited some wonderful places like White temple and Singha park, and these are easily accessible by local taxis or Grab.