Kontilola Cave in Wamena City, Papua Province
In Wamena City, a secluded cave resides and the name is Kontilola Cave. Despite the unpopularity, the cave still becomes an interesting vacation destination, especially for an exploration and photography. The location is in Wosilimo Sub-District, which is about 25 km apart from the downtown. In that area, tourists can even find two other mysterious caves like Sikepaki and Lokale (which they can explore later). For the information, the name derives from the local language. “Konti” means bats while “Eiola” means a big hole. As the name suggests, tourists may see tons of bats living in it!
The Nuance
The nuance is definitely dark and damp (like other caves). According to the locals, no one knows the depth of Kontilola Cave. No official measurements have been done, after all. The best feature in the cave is none other than the presence of bats. It also features huge rocky cliffs and lots of stones as well as bushes. Some locals are often seen on the site, hunting bats for both fun and foods! Do not ignore the fact that the cave also features both stalagmites and stalactites.
Exploring Kontilola Cave
The most common thing to do in Kontilola Cave is photography. Tourists would explore the cave both outside and inside to take great photos, including the stalagmites, stalactites, lush trees, bats, etc. What they need is a good camera and flashlight, actually. It is also better to come at noon and during a good weather. Another tip is that everyone should come in a good stamina. It is because they may spend a long trip and conquer a challenging landscape in order to get to the site. The fact is the cave resides on the peak of a hill!
The next benefit to come to Kontilola Cave is that tourists are able to learn the history. However, they need the help of a local guide to get the information. It is said the cave became a place to store sacred items by the locals (during the tribe war era). No wonder, the site emits a strange nuance sometimes especially at night. The next mystery is that the cave has some paintings on its wall! According to the locals, these paintings were made by ancient people. Some people even said the creators were not human!
Another important feature in Kontilola Cave is none other than the presence of bats. Their number is huge and they sleep at noon inside the cave. That means these bats would go out in the evening, looking for foods. With their presence, the cave is a little bit smelly due to the dungs, though. This explains why some tourists don’t want to spend too long inside the cave.
Nearby Attractions
- Telaga Biru Wamena
- Pasir Putih Aikima
- Kontilola Cave
How to Get There
It is considered easy to get to Kontilola Cave. The first destination is Wamena City and the best transportation service is an airplane. If tourists come from Jayapura City, their flight only takes about 30 minutes. It becomes way much longer if they come from Soekarno – Hatta International Airport at Jakarta City, though. This flight even takes more than 10 hours! Later, after arriving at Wamena, their next destination is Wasilimo Sub-District. They can take advantage of any local transportation service to get there.
Where to Stay
- Baliem Valley Resort
