The Enigma of the Cave of the Elephant

Six kilometres from Ubud, near the village of Bedulu, the Cave of the Elephant is one of the most fascinating archeological sites of the island. Its name hides a small mystery - in ancient Bali, in fact, there were no elephants. A statue of Ganesh may provide the solution, given that in the Hindu tradition, the god of science and wisdom looks like a pachyderm with a big trunk. According to others, the name of the sanctuary is derived from a nearby river called “Elephants”. Despite the unsolved riddle, Goa Gajah is a must-see for its ancient beauty. The gaping mouth of a demon marks the entrance to the cave near a towering tree, nestled in the jungle - there’s the image of Bhoma, the Hindu God of the Earth and the Witch Rangda, a creature out of Balinese mythology. Figures of animals and spirits guard the entrance, capturing the passions and bad thoughts of pilgrims. Inside, sculpted into some niches, there are the depictions of the principles of lingam and yoni - male and female - as well as some Hindu divinities. Around the cave, there are numerous surprises, too - the pool of the seven fountains dedicated to the rivers of India and the ruins of a Buddhist sanctuary from the VIII Century which must have been similar to the famous temples of Borobudur and Angkor Vat.