Elephant Cave

Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, Elephant Cave (also known as the Goa Gajah) is located near Ubud in Bali. The entrance to this cave has impressive carvings of demons and other mythological creatures and is a sight to behold. The cave was built around the 11th century as a site for meditation and is now home to fascinating relics related to Buddhism, stone carvings and stone idols. A flight of stairs will take you down to a pool that was excavated in 1954 as well as to the store that houses these relics. Much revered by the Balinese people, this cave is a prominent centre for Hindus as well as Buddhists. Ancient in its very structure, the insides of the Elephant Caves are rugged and covered in soot from incense sticks that further heighten its sense of mystique. Built on a hillside and surrounded by paddy fields with the River Petanu flowing on one side, this cave is also visited by nature lovers.