Saddar Cave- the best of Hpa Anś spectacular sacred caves!
Have you ever imagined hiking through underground passages to reach a cave temple and then return by a wooden boat? Does it not sound as somehting really special? Well, the journey to and the experience of the Saddar (Saddan) Cave is well worth the praise!
The renowned cave is just 20 km from the center of Hpa An. Bulbous mountains and open lush green fields. There´s a white painted steep staircase at the bottom of one of these mountains. Climbing those stairs will lead to you to a pagoda from where a narrow staircase goes down into the dark abyss. It might sound pretty spine chilling an experience but, is equally adventurous once you set course.
Make it a point to wear a head torch while going down the narrow path leading to the Saddar Cave. Apart from being a holy site, the cave is a true natural wonder. The so called ´Hell on Earth´ is not just home to various Buddha statues and stupas but also thousands of bats that flutter around screaming hysterically.
Buddha statues guard the entrace and the right wall of the cave is mosaiced with hundreds of miniature golden icons. As you wander around you´ll get occassional glimpses of painted buddhist faces. Some photographers are lucky to find the spot where a streak of sunshine beams onto one of the stalagmites that rise from the ground.
The exit to the cave is an entrace to a picturesque tree-lined water where local boatman are ready to paddle you through on a wooden canoe, out of the cave and onto a blue lagoon.
Points to note: * You need to open you shoes and move with them * Beware of the guano stench! * The steps leading to the cave at the heart of the mountain can at times be slippery