Visitors are invariably enthralled by the fascinating culture of the island of Bali, which is distinctive and unlike any other in the world. If you intend to visit this enchanting part of the world and are considering Uluwatu hotels an excellent choice would be the attractive Anantara Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa. This appealing accommodation offers tastefully appointed rooms and courteous hospitality.

Goa Gajah is an intriguing local attraction that will captivate the visitor with an interest in the culture of this engrossing island. Locally called the Elephant Cave this ancient Hindu religious site features an enigmatic cave, a number of relics and some bathing ponds. Set amidst a garden surrounded by verdant rice fields this fascinating site is often visited by tourists from abroad.

The awe-inspiring entrance to Goa Gajah takes the shape of a monstrous mouth, which creates a rather chilling effect as visitors venture into its depths. According to some experts this mouth is a representation of the Hindu deity Bhoma whilst others believe that it belongs to the fearsome witch known as Rangda, who features in Balinese legend and folklore.

The Goa Gajah site is considered to date as far back as the 11th century, and in fact a significant portion of the site is yet to be excavated. The most widely accepted theory suggests that this cave and its environs were used as a sanctuary or hermitage by Hindu clerics who are believed to have dug this cavern entirely using their hands and basic implements.

The Elephant Cave is fairly small in its dimensions. The passage from the entranceway ends at an abrupt intersection, with the passage on the left features a modestly sized niche containing a figure of the Hindu god Ganesh. In the opposite passage you will find a number of stone relics honouring the deity Shiva. In the vicinity of Goa Gajah you will find a number of other ancient remnants that will interest the visitor.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+