Prohodna Cave – The Eyes of God
The country of Bulgaria is popular with an amazing natural heritage. From West to East and from South to North, the beautiful country of Bulgaria is stretching its picturesque, luscious and vibrant lands to uncover a vast and distinctive diversity of nature’s phenomena, charms and breath-taking and awe-inspiring views. Today we are going to present you one of the most magnificent and enigmatic places you can visit and explore in Bulgaria – Prohodna cave, or the place that is thought to be touched and watched by God daily.
Wrapped from the green picturesque of the Iskar river defile, Pohodna cave is the most famous attraction in the Karlukovo karst complex and one of the most unique in the world. Prohodna is described as unique because there are two natural forms resembling eyes – God’s eyes. A truly magnificent destination not only for spiritual people but for everyone else. In fact, many people visiting the Prohodna cave describe their feelings as being closer to God, feeling special, relaxed and emotional. Indeed, there is a unique energy surrounding this very special place and everyone can feel it.
Prohodna cave is one of the 300 caves in the karst Karlukovo complex and it is also popular as the longest cave tunnel in Bulgaria. Its length is 365 metres, and in the highest part, while immediately before exit it reaches 56 meters. Prohodna cave is also popular as a favourite spot for extreme sports fans. This is the only place in the country where enthusiasts are practising cave bungee jumping. The walls of Phohodna are a favourite place for climbers because the limestone rock is soft enough to attach their equipment, and at the same time strong enough to keep them providing safe climbing.
The cave is situated 2km north from the Karlukovo village, 8km west from Lukovit, 50km west from Lovech and 120km northeast from the capital Sofia. There are few caves similar to Prohodna in the world, but only Prohodna owns these phenomenal holes, resembling real eyes, today known as “The eyes of God” for which is believed to be the connection between the Earth and the sky – two holes with the same form and shape in the middle hall of the cave. Thanks to them the cave was named as a landmark in 1962.
Their formation began millions of years ago when the cave was at the bottom of the ocean. Centrifugal forces seeping water and erosion have shaped these two natural forms. Truth or myth, “The eyes of God” have turned the cave into a popular tourist attraction and decor for Bulgarian and foreign movies and music videos. Anyone who visits it remains enchanted by the magnetism of the “eyes”. And it is not hard to be mesmerised by their enigmatic beauty and the unique way that the daylight penetrates through the holes and teach down to the ground to enlighten the dark and enigmatic cave. Standing under both streams of light is certainly make you feel a special, more spiritual way, in a connection with God and His love and peace.
Thanks to the “eyes”, the interior of the cave tunnel is naturally lit by the sun’s rays like radiance shines somehow mystically through the holes. So mystical that consciousness is transferred into a supernatural dimension which dominated both divine and natural forces. Imperceptibly liaise with inner self-flash memories knowledge of pagan rituals and spiritual upliftment, the relationship man – nature – Universe of God. And prevails harmony – feeling and the place cannot be described. You need to see, feel experience it. Make yourself a gift to this supernatural experience as you look in God’s eyes, staring into the recesses of the cave passages.
But when you are already here, before you hit home, you cannot miss visiting Riverside Landscape Park “Panega”. It is located 10km east of Prohodna and is a unique object of Ecotourism. Riverside Landscape Park “Panega” integrates so many things into one – unique natural karst formations along the river Golden Panega with cultural and historical heritage in the region and the various opportunities for alternative adventure, speleological and educational tourism. Here everyone will find his kind of experience – fans of extreme sports, unique sights and history lovers, fans of the colourful festivals and fresh and delicious traditional cuisine.
The riverside landscape park “Panega” is situated along the eponymous river. Situated in the area Kotlen you can enjoy one of the most impressive sites on this route – the magnificently carved meander, on whose steep slopes rise astonishing rock formations. According to the belief, everything in this place – water, air, rocks and plants charges you with vital energy and spirituality. The trail leads to a short but picturesque canyon, where is situated the Panega Dark Hole – still unexplored cave karst with a spring gushing.
When you climb a steep slope, the trail enters the second subregion of the geopark – Karlukovo karst complex. This is a hilly plateau land with an area of 900 h, located at an altitude of 400 m. The eco-trail runs along the periphery of Karlukovo plateau. The route is presented with a full set of surface and underground karst formations – Geopark – (by definition UNESCO) sustainable tourism product of geological, geomorphological or paleontological objects with aesthetic or cultural and historical value.
Location: 1km south-west from Lukovit
Built: 2004-2006, the project “Creating integrated tourist product for improving the sustainable economic development of Lukovit” FAR “Development of Bulgarian Ecotourism”.
Landmarks: Panega river, which originates from the karst spring Glava Panega, meanders, old river beds.
Duration of transition: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Best time to visit: April to October
Equipment: Tourist boots
The marking in the area is destroyed. You should know that the trail goes along the river. You can easily navigate without a guide needed. The place is conveniently for a picnic – there are a lot of shelters with barbecues. Adding to this the beautiful and picturesque surrounding, you can definitely enjoy a short trip during the weekend with the whole family. The nearby towns and cities offer a great range of small and cosy hotels and guest houses, so you can plan a longer getaway and escape the hectic and dynamic big-city lifestyle to relax, unwind and enjoy beautiful nature. You can order a boat here too. The area offers a lot of family-friendly activities, so make sure to plan a family weekend and you will enjoy your time for sure.
