“The eyes of God” (a.k.a. “Prohodna” cave)

I’ve been willing to see this cave since the last year, but the things were not going well with the weather and other boring stuff had risen against It, so I’ve postponed this travel for later. I’ve finaly got few days of vacation from work and jumped on the train. This cave is actually very easy to reach, if you know where it is. There is no long walks in the mountain and the cave itself is 250 meters long between the 2 entrances. There are no huge stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The only interesting part of the cave are the 2 natural holes in the ceiling that make you stare in them for minutes, breathing very slow, while the only sounds around are the birds nesting inside the cave. Slowly all their squeaking stops, until they stop seeing you as a threat.

I’ve been lurking inside the cave for about 2 hours, taking pictures of everyithing that catch my eye. Tried to have a look at the second cave named “Tevnata dupka” *(the dark hole). But there was heavy iron grid in the entrance, not allowing entrance.

For some reason, the Wikipedia article about “Prohodna” is not big enough to explain everything. I’ve taken the liberty to make some research on local Bulgarian pages and translate in English.

“Prohodna” is part of a complex of above 280 caves, holes and 3 stone monasteries in the Karlukovo’s canyon. It’s exact length is 262 meters and at late 1962, the cave is announced as nature’s landmark. The name “Prohodna” (Вход, проход – meaning entrance) comes from the 2 connected cave mouths, the little one high 35 meters and the big one – 45 meters. They are connected with an easy to walk path.

“Prohodna” has been inhabited long ago there was actual human civilization and the nearby cave holds rock pictures from Eneolithic humans, but it is closed for visitors.

In the middle of the cave are the 2 karst holes named “the eyes” from which hundreds of swallows get in the cave and build nests. On the ground below the eyes some small bushes and herbs have found their way to grow in the suprisingly lightened cave. This area has been used to shoot some movies in the past.

In the Equinox day (21 march) through the eyes, the sun rays are falling over an alcove filled with water. The thracians were using this cave for a ritual about the beginning of the spring and the sawing of the new plants for this year.

The eyes are really magnetic and can make you hold your breath and stare for a very long time. I’ve invested some time to sit on a stone and just watch the eyes above me. It was a very soothing and calming half hour.

There are some enthusiast making bungee jumps but they were not there this year and I am a bit scared to try anyway. Seen some guys making climbing and it occured, that they are a team of mountain rescuers just training.

Behind the large cave entrance is a path leading to the “Peter Tranteev” guest house but it was closed and I had to search for food and rest elsewhere. The guest house is partly built in the rock itself and I was curious to see the rooms. Part of the rooms walls are the rock itself.

For that reason, I walked the few miles to the village and bought some beer and sausage to feed my empty stomach. I always try not to eat at least one supper and one breakfast before such exploring. The senses get more sharp and your mind is more aware.

Because of the still raving Economic crisis, both pubs in the village were closed, so I had to drink beer with sausage just sitting on the side walk. But anyway …

If you are interested -> You can reach the train station of Karlukovo from Sofia in about 2 hours. Here is how to reach the cave entrance by walking 3 kilometers (about 2 miles), just zoom in:

View “The eyes of god” in the cave “Prohodna” in a larger map