Vai Gioi Cave Ninh Binh: Journey through 3 realms inside the mountain

Journey to conquer the cave entrance

Located on a high mountain in Thung Nham area, Nam Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province, Vai Gioi Cave is a destination with a strong historical and spiritual mark. According to the stories passed down, this was once the place where the people of the ancient Hoa Lu citadel set up an altar to worship the sky, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather and favorable weather.

To reach the cave entrance at an altitude of 100 meters, visitors need to prepare physically to conquer the first challenge: 439 stone steps winding around the mountainside. This journey, although arduous, is an indispensable part of the experience, gradually taking visitors away from the outside space to enter a magical world .

To reach Vai Gioi cave, visitors must climb 439 stone steps around the mountainside.

Explore the three worlds inside the cave

Dating back to around the 10th century, Vai Gioi Cave is a natural masterpiece with an area of approximately 5,000m². The interior space is divided into three separate floors, symbolizing the three realms according to folk beliefs: Earth, Hell and Heaven, creating a unique journey of discovery.

The small, narrow cave entrance is located halfway up the mountain.

The 'Earth' Floor

As soon as you step through the cave entrance, you will arrive at the 'Earth' level. The space here impresses with its relatively flat stalactites, evoking a simple, everyday life. This is the starting point for a journey of deeper exploration inside.

The 'earthly' floor has flat stalactites like the simple life in everyday life

'Hell' Floor

From the 'Earth' level, the path will lead down to the 'Hell' level. The atmosphere here becomes colder and more mysterious with the darkness covering. This level has many stalactites with special shapes, associated with legends such as two stone blocks resembling mastiffs guarding the gate, the throne of Hades, Nai Ha bridge, or Tam Sinh stone. The silence and strange shapes create a space full of spiritual colors, symbolizing reincarnation.

The 'hell' level symbolizes birth, aging, sickness, death, and the cycle of cause and effect.

'Heaven' Floor

In contrast to the journey down to 'Hell', to reach the 'Heaven' level, visitors must climb 88 precarious iron steps. The highest level of the cave is considered a sacred paradise. There are many stalactites with images of Bodhisattvas, heaven and solemn Buddha thrones. The most special feature here is a 'heavenly gate' leading to the outside, opening up a panoramic view of the entire green valley below.

On the left side of the cave entrance is an iron staircase. Visitors climb 88 precarious steps to reach the 'heavenly' floor.

The beauty of thousand-year-old stalactites

Throughout the space of Vai Gioi Cave is a system of sparkling limestone stalactites, formed over thousands of years. Nature has skillfully sculpted countless unique shapes, from rocks that look like ancient trees, rice jars to traces that evoke the image of fish bones or teeth of ancient animals, stimulating the imagination of viewers.

Inside the cave, about 5,000 square meters wide, are many stalactites that date back thousands of years.

In the cave there are many stalactites with strange shapes.

Stalactites shaped like trees, rice jars...

Stalactites like traces of animal teeth, fish bones... are located in many places in the cave.

Today, Vai Gioi Cave is not only an attractive geological tourist attraction but also a unique cultural and spiritual space, attracting domestic and foreign tourists to explore and contemplate.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/dong-vai-gioi-ninh-binh-hanh-trinh-qua-3-coi-trong-long-nui-406069.html