Prohodna Cave

Prohodna Cave — "the Eyes of God"

A through-cave in the Karlukovo area of northern Bulgaria, famous for two openings in its ceiling that, seen from below, look like a pair of eyes gazing at the sky — hence the nickname everyone uses: "the Eyes of God" (Oknata). Being a tunnel cave, it has entrances at both ends, and daylight floods the gallery, which makes it accessible without any caving gear.

What you'll see

The main draw is the two symmetrical "eyes" in the vault, through which sunbeams pour into the cave to create a striking play of light, especially at certain hours. The high, arching gallery is impressive in itself, and the spot is popular with photographers and with climbers and rope-jumpers who use the cave's interior. With a 4.9 rating, it is one of the most photographed places in the region.

Practical

The cave lies in the Iskar river gorge near the village of Karlukovo, reached by car from Sofia in roughly two hours, followed by a short walk on foot. The ground can be slippery after rain, so wear shoes with good grip. For the light effect through the "eyes," come on a sunny day and check in advance when the sun lines up with the openings. The Karlukovo area has other caves and trails worth combining into a day out.