Jeita Grotto | Most Wonderful Nature

Share Top Five December 20, 2018

Eighteen kilometers northeast of Beirut, Jeita Grotto is comprised of underground limestone caves were inhabited in prehistoric times and continue to attract human visitors with their vivid colors and stalactite formations. The biggest stalactite in the world is here. The caves consist of a network of chambers — with an upper and a lower gallery — stretching out for nine kilometers and accessible by an underground river. The nearest town is Juniyah, just a few kilometers away. Cave tours last two hours,More info:cnn

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#10 Jeita Grotto • Lebanon’s Hidden Treasure,More info:Matteo Archondis [ideando]

#9 Jeita Grotto,More info:lonelyplanet

One of the Middle East’s greatest natural wonders, the stunning Jeita Grotto cave system extends around 6km into the mountains 18km, northeast of Beirut. The simply extraordinary upper cavern, accessed via a cable car from the ticket office, has strategically positioned coloured lights that showcase the stalactites and stalagmites in all their crystalline glory. The flooded lower caves, reached via a tacky toy train, are explored by rowing boat and are closed when the flood levels rise too high.

Discovered in 1836 and opened as a tourist attraction in 1969, the caves were used as an ammunition store during the civil war, despite the flooding from the Nahr El Kalb (or Dog River) for which they form the source.

Bear in mind that there’s no photography allowed: you can stow your camera in lockers at the mouth of the caverns. The ticket price includes the toy train and cable-car rides, grotto entrance and a 20-minute video presentation about the caves (screened at different times of the day in English, French and Arabic). Allow 90 minutes for your visit. There’s also a tourist office here.

To get to the grotto, take a minibus (LL1500) or LCC bus 6 (LL1500) from Dawra and ask the driver to drop you at the Jeita turn-off on the Beirut–Jounieh Hwy. From here, negotiate a return price with a waiting taxi for the 5km journey (around US$15 to US$20, according to demand), and make sure to figure in waiting time. Alternatively, a return taxi trip from Beirut should cost around US$60 including waiting time.

#8 Millions of years were captured in drops of water,More info:jeitagrotto

Lebanon is a country of karst areas rich with mountains that offer spectacular scenery and scenic view and the mountainous caves are spread in different regions. In one of these regions in the valley of Nahr El-Kalb at 18 km North of Beirut, is found Jeïta Grotto, one of the most marvelous natural wonders in the Middle-East, in spacious greenery. The road leading to the caverns is carved in the mountains and surrounded with trees. The all-around nature is perfectly in tune with the site.

#7 Jeita Grotto, Wonderful Underground Caves in Lebanon,More info:charismaticplanet

#6 JEITA GROTTO, LEBANON,More info:orangesmile

The Jeita Grotto is one of Lebanon’s most remarkable sights. This is a complex of two large limestone caves, whose general length is about 9 km. The lower cave was discovered a long time ago, in the first half of the 19th century. As it was found out by scientists, this cave was inhabited in prehistoric times. You can get to the lower cave only by boat, as it is filled by an underground river. It is important to note that the latter has great importance. It serves as the main source of fresh water for more than a million local residents.

The lower level of the cave is incredibly interesting, but the upper level, discovered in 1958, is considered more beautiful. Its main attractions are wonderfully beautiful stalactites. The height of some galleries of the upper cave reaches 120 meters. Thanks to the excellent lighting, the underground world looks like a fairy-tale empire whose splendour can be enjoyed for hours. In this cave is located the largest stalactite in the world, whose height is 8.2 meters.