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Railay, also known as Raileh, Reilay and Railey is the name of a small peninsula just south of Ao Nang. Though Railay Beach, Krabi is a part of the mainland, but it is cut off from the highway by the majestic towering cliffs and is hence inaccessible by road. It is due to this inaccessibility, that the Railay Beach gets a special 'island feel', which, with the spectacular scenery, draws many visitors every year. Railay Beach is probably the most popular place in Krabi to spend Christmas and New Year. However, those who do plan to spend their vacation here must do advance booking as the limited number of rooms here fill up around six months in advance. For a photographer, Railay Beach is pure delight as its gorgeous landscape has already featured on tourist posters of Thailand and in endless postcard pictures. Still every shutterbug enthusiast tries to cover this beauty from a novel angle, playing with the sunlight at different times of the day. There is a small cave at the far end of Phra Nang beach, with a shrine notable for its phallic statues. The shrine is dedicated to a deity known locally as Sri Kunlathewi who, according to legend, was apparently an Indian princess wrecked on this coast in the 3rd century BC and has been called upon by fishermen ever since to provide them with a good catch. Night scene in Railay is not too loud, though there are a few small beach bar and some lively rasta-style bars on the east side, which stay open late and often have live music and fire shows.
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