Sacred little-known places of Akmola region -
Nature of Akmola region and Kazakhstan -
Aydakhar Cave – also known as the “Dragon Cave” – is a gigantic cave, where it seems as if the earth has opened its mouth to tell a lonely traveler its innermost secrets. The cave is located at an altitude of 410 meters above sea level on the edge of a beautiful and magical forest. This is not just a geological formation, but a living organism breathing centuries-old wisdom. Its giant portal, 70 meters wide, seems to invite you to enter, and its 270-meter depth hides in its depths a whole world where time flows according to different laws. The vaults of the cave, rising to the height of a nine-story building, keep the memory of thousands of people who came here for healing and enlightenment. In the semi-darkness, cut only by rays of light from rare holes, the air is filled with a special smell - a mixture of wet stone, wormwood and something elusive that the locals call "dragon's breath".
How to get there and visit -
The Dragon Cave (Aydakhar) is located 31 kilometers from the village of Zerenda in the northwest of the Zerenda Mountains near the village of Ulgili, Zerenda district, Akmola region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 52°51'54"N 68°41'18"E
Legend -
The legends of the Aydakhar Cave (Dragon Cave) say that in the very depths of the cave once lived an old healer who knew the language of herbs and stones. His followers still come here to spend the night at the ancient altar, where the coals from the fires have not cooled for hundreds of years. Find "dragon's tears" - rare stalactites with healing water flowing through them, or hear the "voice of the cave" - a strange echo that sometimes resembles human speech.
Today, the Aydahar Cave has become a place of pilgrimage for a variety of seekers. In its grottoes, you can meet yogis immersed in meditation to the rhythmic sound of drops, artists trying to capture the play of shadows on bizarre rock formations, and simple travelers whose souls yearn for peace. A special place at the far end of the cave is called the "Dragon's Heart" - the stone here is always warm to the touch, even in severe frosts. The elders say that if you put your palm to it and make a wish from the heart, the spirit of the cave will definitely respond. There is also a narrow passage leading to a small chamber with perfect acoustics – a whisper spoken here echoes throughout the cave, as if the earth itself were repeating your words. The best time to visit is early in the morning, when the first rays of the sun penetrate inside, creating a mystical play of light and shadow.
One old shepherd once told me: "Aidahar is a door. But where it leads – everyone decides for themselves." Maybe that is why people return here again and again – some seek healing, some wisdom, and some just want to hear their own echo return from the depths of centuries.
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