Its beauty was a myth!
I stepped in its entrance, and it is an awesome journey with nature on a soggy day.
The Balangagan Cave revealed and ticked a checkmark on my simple bucket list.
The cave is a byword of my old man. It has cathedral-like spaces and many passageways. Hence, my curiosity since childhood of planning to visit it.
Its beauty is a wonder. Beholden to tourists and locals alike.
He was there as a teenager.
Trained cave guides lead the way
Stepping at it for the first time, with office mates and three selected guides. We explored the newest addition of caves opened for spelunking in southern Sagada. Each turn, hole, caveat, and passageway is a wonder-filled experience as the seconds ticked by. The one-hour-and-a-half walkthrough is not enough to explore all the parts of the cave.
Million-year-old rock formations glimmer under the Petromax lamp’s light. Numerous shapes begin to take form, and adulation of nature’s greatest underground art is open for display.
On this occasion, our trained guides assisted us snake on its dank spaces and limited passageways.
Southern Sagada marvel
The Balangagan Cave is located in southern Sagada. Far from the beaten track of the Sumaguing Cave. By comparison, the Balangagan is drier but muddier than the Sumaguing Cave.
Utilizing it primarily as a burial place. The natives, within its immediate vicinity, visibly placed wooden coffins in precarious places near its entrances and egresses. Final resting places of the stillborn, including children, are century-old burial earthen jars that adorn the cliffs, and cave walls.
Veering from the main highway, is a cemented road leading to the cave. Starting from where it ends, the guides briefed us on survival tips and pre-departure instructions. As expected, the cool, damp air greets us on the climb to the entrance.
Sagada cave system
Sagada’s cave networks have always been its primary source of tourism and spelunking activities. It fuels the town’s economy and is a source of income for its residents. It has a very cool weather and other natural wonders. Waterfalls, lakes, and pine tree-filled mountains that are ready for the offing for adventure and fun.
Sagada’s cave system is complex.
Starting from the upper parts of Nangonogan Cave. Sagada has a lot to offer to visitors. Beginning at the Underground River cave system. Exploring it upstream directly leads to the Bokong waterfalls.
The Lumiang Cave is full of wooden coffins in its entrance. It leads the path to many caving connection activities, and is the way to the crystal caves.
The Sumaguing cave is the main draw and is the first option to offer to newcomers. The Balangagan is the newest addition to the lot.
Mandatory service of cave guides
Depending on the experience and knowledge of local guides, there are many caves for visitors to explore. These are monuments of natural beauty. In general, the caves are interconnected in some areas and many exits are readily available.
Magnificent sites and sights
What makes Balangagan special is the sights it offers inside. Fully exploring it will take up to three hours, depending on the pace of the visitors. There are many rock formations that adorn the cave walls and ceilings.
Serving as the group’s sweeper, I find it compelling to be left behind and take all pictures of the rock formations with my cellphone camera. For the full documentation of the place, however, a high-resolution DSLR camera and better lighting for the best exposure is needed.
Awesomely displaying nature’s work for a million years is the Balangagan Cave. Offering its labyrinths and passageways, for the world to see.
Sagada Blue Mountain Cabins
Image by https://www.facebook.com/sagadabluemountaincabins
As a bonus, the Sagada Blue Mountain Cabin hosted us for three days. It is a visitor-friendly facility, complete with amenities and an able staff. The sprawling complex offer nature tripping activities and is near the blue soil.
To travel North Philippines is a challenge to step into this magnificent marvel. To experience spelunking in a new setting and enjoying all the beauty nature has to offer.
My old man is right. The Balangagan Cave is a hidden beauty, awesome, and wonderful, with nature’s artwork for a million years in majestic display.
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