the Travel Enthusiast
- 18 Nov
evike14 in Amazing Places | NO COMMENTSTop 5 sacred caves from around the world
Elephanta Caves, photo by Justin Morgan on Flickr
Some people believe that there is still a bit of magic left in the world, but even if you are not one of them, you simply can’t help feeling touched when visiting places that have a very deep meaning for many. Sacred caves are just like that – maybe you don’t feel any spiritual connection to the temples or places of worship housed in them, but you will have a hard time not appreciating them.
Many sacred caves bring together the beauty of nature with stunning architecture, and even if they are mere caves without any man-made additions, you can be sure that they are beautiful enough to make people believe that there is something mystical about them. Here are the top 5 sacred caves in the world.
Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize
Actun Tunichil Muknal, photo by Swiveler on Flickr
Actun Tunichil Muknal might be sacred, but not in the way that makes most people comfortable. The religious site in this cave was used for sacrifices, and one of their remainders (possibly) is the calcified skeleton of a young woman.
The trek to the sacred site within this cave is not an easy one, and it will feel like a mythical journey to the underworld: you have before you 6 kilometers of hiking, splashing through water and even swimming underwater.
Elephanta Caves, Gharapuri Island, India
The lush island of Elephanta has two cave networks, one of which houses Buddhist sacred sites, while the other one is dedicated to Hindu deities. These stunning sculpted caves were turned into sacred sites between the 5th and 8th centuries, and they used to be painted in bright colors. Not much is known about the original builders, and an aura or mystery still surrounds these magnificent places.
Longmen Caves, China
Longmen Caves, photo by Jiang Jiang
Longmen, or Dragon’s Gate caves, are a huge network of over 2000 caves and grottoes which showcase Buddhist art at its most exquisite. Most of the carvings and pagodas date back to the 5th century and are the work of the Wei Dynasty.
The statues of Buddha and his disciples (more than 100,000 statues in total) used to be painted, but even after the colors have chipped away the statues are no less magnificent.
Corycian Cave, Greece
This cave on Mount Parnassus has been a place of worship for the forest god Pan, his nymph followers, and the Muses. Various objects have been discovered in the cave, but there is no temple as such. However, according to rumors, a rock at the entrance of the cave served as an altar in ancient times.
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travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Dambulla Cave, Sri Lanka
Dambulla Cave, photo by S J Pinkney
Dambulla Cave has become a sacred site over 2000 years ago, under the reign of King Valagambahu, and it has been one of the most important religious sites in Sri Lanka ever since. The statues and murals in the cave are still painted in bright colors over the rough rocks and many of them are gilded.
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