Mahendra Cave in Nepal, Tourist Attractions

In the year 1950, young shepherds stumbled across the Mahendra Cave that
was named in honor of King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. Locals refer to the
cave as the House of Bats (Chamero Odaar) due to this shy species of wildlife
that call the cave home. Generally, the Mahendra and other caves in the
region are explored with flashlights, but more recently lights have been
installed into the cave. The lights have caused great concern amongst
conservationists, as some of the bat species that inhabit the caves are very
rare. Since the installation, the sightings of bats have declined as the
lights clearly disturb the bats, forcing them to relocate. The lack of
supervision when tourists and visitors enter the caves is also very
disturbing as the constant noise and movement of humans is very stressful to
the bats.

Over and above being famed for housing bats, the Mahendra Cave is a
natural cave that is made from limestone. The entire cave is decorated in
spectacular stalagmites and stalactites that shine and glimmer when light is
shone on them. Walking through the cave, armed only with a flashlight, is
definitely more rewarding than when the cave is lit with artificial light.
The stone that is dripping from the roof and covering the cave floor comes
alive under the beams of the flashlights and increases the excitement of this
dark adventure.

As one of the darker sights in Nepal, the Mahendra Cave gives visitors
the opportunity to embark on an adventure. There is still much of the cave
that has not been explored and gives the cave an atmosphere of awe, when
thinking of the mysterious, unknown territory that no man has yet been
privileged to see.

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