Passohara cave is a tourist destination located near the Mandala Ria beach area which is located in Lembanna Village, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi. To get here, tourists will go through quite steep terrain with slippery rocks as deep as 30 meters.
At the end of the cave there is a spring which is believed to be hundreds of years old. This spring is still used by residents today. With minimal lighting conditions, tourists need to bring their own lighting equipment when traveling to this place.
Inside the cave there is a beautiful lake. To find the lake, visitors must first enter an underground cavity approximately one hundred meters long. This cave itself is only about a hundred meters from the beach.
The Attraction of Passohara Cave
✦ Spring in the cave
Inside the Passohara cave there is a spring that is estimated to be hundreds of years old. There is even an opinion that the spring is thousands of years old. This spring is believed to exist to meet the needs of the surrounding community.
To get to the spring, visitors must first pass through slippery rocks that descend to a depth of 30 meters. The road to the cave is a narrow gap so lighting cannot rely on sunlight alone. Visitors who come need to bring additional lighting equipment if they want to enter.
It is said that the water flow from this cave is connected to the water at Mandala Ria beach which is two km from the location. So, if the water conditions on the beach are at low tide, the water in the cave will also recede. Likewise when the water is at high tide.
✦ Very Clear Fresh Water Pool
Inside the cave there is a fresh water pool with very clear greenish water. Visitors who come can enjoy the freshness of the water in this lake by swimming or diving. The freshness of the water in this cave can relieve fatigue after walking through the fairly steep cave opening. The clarity of the pool water means that visitors can see to the bottom of the pool. Everything is visible from above. Especially if you take the opportunity to swim and dive to the bottom of the pool. Of course, the ecosystem that exists under the pond becomes clearer.
✦ Cave Walls
The walls of the Passohara cave look solid with a brownish color. This cave is even more enchanting with the stalactites and stalagmites that decorate it. The combination of the brownish cave walls with the very clear turquoise water creates a contrast that is beautiful to the eye.
Address, Location Route and Entrance Ticket
Passohara Cave is located in Lembanna Village, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi. The location is very close to Mandala Ria beach. To get to this destination, tourists can use the route to Mandala Ria beach then continue their journey to the cave.
Mandala Ria Beach itself is located in Ara Village, Lembanna, Bontobahari District, Bulukumba, South Sulawesi. It is 35 km from Bulukumba City. It takes four to five hours from Makassar city.
After entering Bulukumba Regency, you only need to follow the Bulukumba-Bira axis road. After traveling for approximately 45 minutes, you will find a signpost to Apparalang. From there, you only need to follow the signs to arrive at Mandala Ria beach.
The condition of the road to get to the beach is not smooth, so visitors who come need to be careful. The road conditions are small, winding and have sharp descents. Visitors will pass a path with small, steep rocks. Road access can be used by two- or four-wheeled vehicles.
For visitors who plan not to stay overnight, it would be better if they travel in the morning, considering that the road conditions are a little dark due to the lack of lighting at night.
Tourists who want to visit this cave can come here from Monday to Sunday because this location is always open to visit. There are also no opening and closing times for the area. However, it’s a good idea to come while the sun is still shining considering the minimal lighting conditions.
Those of you who come to this location will be charged IDR 8,000 to buy an entrance ticket. For more details, you can contact the Passohara cave manager.
Tips for visiting to enjoy the charm of Passohara Cave
1. Exploring caves or caving
Each cave has its own uniqueness. This uniqueness is always interesting to explore. Passohara Cave also has a uniqueness that would be a shame if not explored. So, tourists who visit this area are recommended to do cave exploration.
Cave exploring is an activity to explore all parts of the cave, both vertically and horizontally. However, before doing this activity, it would be a good idea for you to pay attention to the following as preparation before doing this extreme sport.
2. Take a caving or cave exploration course
Taking the course is intended for visitors to have knowledge about caves. This knowledge is useful for the safety of visitors when exploring the beauty of the cave.
3. Pay attention to weather conditions
Sensitivity to nature is the key to the safety of tourists who want to explore the cave. Tourists should avoid caves that can be affected by flooding during the rainy season, especially caves that have water and are close to rivers.
4. Bring Double Lighting Equipment
The cave is always dark, both day and night. So the lighting device that was brought became the only guide.
To avoid the risk of getting lost or not being able to return, cave explorers must be anticipatory by carrying multiple tools. The equipment you bring can be a flashlight or head lamp .
5. Follow the Guide’s Directions
Cavers must be willing to listen and obey the person who acts as a guide. This guide certainly understands the conditions of the cave better and knows what visitors don’t know.
6. Prepare physically and mentally
A person’s mental state greatly influences his physical condition. People who are mentally strong will be able to give suggestions to be physically strong. However, people who are mentally weak will have weakened physical abilities.
7. Understand the Single Rope Technique
Having knowledge of this technique really helps visitors enjoy the beauty of vertical caves.
8. Keep yourself in a calm condition
Peace in the cave is an obligation that the caver must carry out. Noisy conditions caused by visitors can disturb the conditions of creatures in the cave.
9. Exploring the Condition of the Cave Ecosystem
Caves are places full of mystery. The dark conditions and sometimes being underground make life in caves interesting to explore.
Different conditions will produce different outputs. The condition of the cave, which is always dark, will of course make the living creatures in it adapt. These living creatures have evolved to have different characteristics than creatures outside the cave.
Isn’t this condition very interesting to explore? Imagine, if you found a living creature with a condition you had never seen before. It would be very exciting, wouldn’t it?
10. Drawing Cave Topography
The area in the cave has interesting and unique lines. Walls with distinctive depressions and protrusions. Stalatites and stalagmites that decorate the entire cave. And the natural colors on each side of the cave.
All this can be a very interesting image object. You can come with your favorite drawing tools and coloring. Then draw casually while sitting on the edge of the cave. You can do it in a cave too, as long as you are prepared to bring lighting to support this activity.
Drawing activities can relieve fatigue and make yourself happy. Apart from that, your work can be used as a reference for knowledge related to geography.
11. Swim in a Freshwater Pool
The fresh water pool in the cave is a charm that should not be missed. You have to try the clarity of the water with a turquoise color for its freshness. Because the conditions are quite dark, you shouldn’t forget to bring lighting. You can dive to see what is in the pool.
Not many tourists have come, making this location feel like a private swimming pool. Enjoy your own pool!
12. Take photos
In order to immortalize memories, visitors who come to this location must not forget to take photos. These photos taken will be able to tell the story of what happened in the past and what changes occurred after time passed.
At this location there are many very nice spots to use for taking photos. Don’t forget to show the best smile you have!
Available Tourist Facilities
Located close to Mandala Ria beach, visitors can use the facilities around this beach while exploring the charm of the beauty of Passohara Cave.
Passohara Cave has extraordinary natural charm. It is home to hundreds of years old springs which are still used by the community to this day. Various exciting and challenging activities can be done in this cave. The beauty in the cave makes anyone want to come back here.
