Batu Cermin Cave as known as Mirror Stone Cave is one of the
many tourist destination in Labuan
Bajo, Flores, Indonesia. This spot is
relatively close to the Center of Labuan Bajo. It's only 4 kms or you can drive
around 10 - 15 minutes by car or motorbike.
Why is it called Batu Cermin or Mirror Stone Cave?. If
you enter this cave through the small
gate, you will find the first big room inside, then you can move to the left
side, and there is another big room here, on this side you can see the sun
shine come in through the small hole of
the the cave, incoming light will be refracted in the walls of the cave that
consist of some slick and glass stone that can emit the light to illuminate some part of the cave, so
that’s why this cave called Batu Cermin or Mirror stone cave.
Batu Cermin Cave was
found by Theodore Verhoen (He was a pastor and also an archaeologist who comes
from the Dutch) on 1951. Verhoen said that long time ago Flores island was in
the bottom of sea. It can be proved by the discovery of some fossils inside the
caves such as cora fossil l , fish fossils ,and turtle fossil.
How to get Batu Cermin cave.
If you start from
the center of Labuan Bajo (Soekarno Hatta street), just keep going till you
find the three junction, and take to the left side and just direct in the main
street. Then you will find also the next three junction, please turn to the
right and go straight till you find the traffic lights and turn to the left,
keep going till you find the last three junction, and there are 3 direction,
you can take the middle direction and please keep going, you will find the
traditional Market of Wae Kesambi, just continue till you find the Big letter
that written Batu Cermin or Mirror Stone Cave, and you can enter that
direction.
In front gate of
this cave there is an office where you can pay the entrance fee and registrate
your name. Don’t need to scare to explore this cave because you will escort by
the ranger or local guide from this place.