The Phu Pha Kham "Gate of Time" Sakon Nakhon Thailand

A rare coincidence of astronomy and geology ...... A 100% natural cave that is aligned to equinoctial sunrise and sunset on the same day 

 

         How the stone gate was formed

          This natural megalithic cave occured during the Early Cretaceous period about 120 - 130 million years ago, located on the Phupan Mountain at +360 m above the sea level in Huay Yang Village Loa Pon Kor Subdistrict, Khok Si Suphan District Sakon Nakhon Province Thailand.

          There are two theories

          1.The rock-pillar was broken

 

 

            2. The rock weathering 

 

 

          November 6, 2025 Dr.Pitaksit Ditbanjong an outstanding geologist from Khon Kaen University made a visiting at the site, after carefully studying he confirmed that the 2nd theory is scientifically possible due to the sedimentation clues during the Early Cretaceous Period 120 - 130 million years ago 

 

Dr.Pitaksit Ditbanjong (left) and Sansonthi Boonyothayan the author (right) are at the site on November 6, 2025

 

Dr.Pitaksith Disabanjong shows his drawing how the gate was formed by the geological process known as "rock weathering"   

  

Location of The Phu Pha Kham "Gate of Time" 

 

Phu Pha Kham is one of the Phupan mountain ranges 

 

The cave is aligned to equinoctial sunrise and sunset at azimuth 90 and 270

 

           On November 21, 2023 The Civilization Club of Sakon Nakhon went to a location on the Phupan Mountain near Huay Yang Village, Khok Si Supan District to observe the prehistoric paint that is concealed under the sandstone outcrop. After carefully observing, the two gate-like drawings were identified that represent the real megalithic gate located about 1,000 m away.

 

Mr Sansonthi Boonyothayan president of Civilization Club of Sakon Nakhon (right) and Ajarn Woravit Tongsiri vice-president (left) went to observed the prehistoric drawing that is concealed under the sandstone outcrop   

 

 

You have to lie down in order to see the prehistoric drawing under the sandstone outcrop 

 

 

 

Two gate-like drawings are identified 

 

Matching the two prehistoric gate-like drawings and the real megalithic sandstone gate, east and west view

 

The west view looking to the east scenario 

 

The east view looking to the west scenario

 

Pieces of broken jars from the prehistoric settlement are found near the cave (sandstone gate)   

 

           After astronomical checkup with a magnetic compass and smartphone applications, we came to the conclusion that this cave is aligned precisely to the equinoctial phenomena

 

A magnetic compass and smarthphone applications are showing the equinoctial alignment of the cave 

 

The equinoctial sunrise will be here

 

 

The late afternoon sun on November 21, 2023 is one of the clues to calculate the coming equinoctial phenomena on March 21, 2024

 

  

During March 1 to April 8, sunrise and sunset will be visible through this gate

 

Here comes the equinoctial sunrise and sunset on March 21, 2024 and again on March 21, 2025 

 

 

 

            The ongoing reasearch

            Team of archaeologists from the Fine Art Department found an interesting evidences of the prehistoric recording with 39 markings on the sandstone wall. We thought that these markings may indicate the number of days when the sun is visible passing the gate.

 

 

 

 

 

           Halfway through research was done by taking photos of the sunrise and sunset that visible on vernal equinox from 21 March 2025 to 8 April 2025 which counted 19 days. We are waiting to see the sunrise and sunset on 1 March 2026 to complete 39 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

          Conclusion

          It is hard to come across a cave that's completely natural and aligned with the equinoctial sunrise and sunset on the same day. So welcome to Sakon Nakon Thailand