Dau Go cave
The
Dau Go grotto is on Driftwood Island. Seen from
afar, the entrance to the grotto appears to be blue, and
has a shape similar to that of a jellyfish. After 90
steps up the island, the entrance is reached. The
ceiling of the grotto is about 25 m. Hundreds of
stalactites falling down from the roof of the grotto
look like a waterfall.
The grotto is divided into three main parts. The
exterior is a room with a vault full of natural light.
Many forms may be seen in the rock formations of the
chamber, depending on the imagination of the visitor of
course. Crossing the first chamber, one enters the
second chamber through a narrow passage. The light here
is mysterious, and new images appear in the stone. It
makes us having a fear and be inquisitive.
The third chamber of the grotto is widely opened. At the
end of the grotto is a well of clear water. Looking up
in the dim light we recognize that surrounded is the
image of an ancient citadel and a scuffle of elephants,
horses, man with bristly sword and spear. All are making
a rush and be petrified suddenly.
The name Driftwood Grotto came from a popular story of
the resistance war against the Yuan - Mongolian
aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tr-n Hung -ao was
given the order to prepare many ironwood stakes here, to
be planted on the riverbed of Bach -ang River. The
remaining wooden pieces found in the grotto have given
it its present name.
And the name Giau Go is associated with the legend that
General Tran Hung Dao (1226-1300) hid ironwood stakes in
preparation for the Bach Dang battle against the
Yuan-Mongolian invaders.
If the
Thien Cung Grotto is monumental and modern (in its
natural form), then Driftwood Grotto is solemn, but also
grandiose. In "Marvels of the World," published in
France in 1938, the author called the grotto "Grotte des
merveilles" (a site of many marvels)
In the first chamber, in the very middle of the grotto,
is a colossal pillar supporting the large vault. On the
top of the pillar, there appears to be a monk draped in
a long, dark cloak, with his right hand clasping a cane.
The second chamber is narrow. Here, the stalactites look
smaller but more graceful. One feels like going to a
pagoda with a monk in meditation so that one steps more
gently.
The third chamber features high stone columns out of
which nature has carved images of a large kingdom, of
heroes and soldiers holding swords and spears rushing
up, of war elephants and horses or lions, etc. All of
them suddenly was petrified and remained there for good.
In 1917, Emperor Khai Dinh came to visit the grotto, and
amazed by the beauty of the place, ordered the erection
of an engraved stone stele singing the
praises of Ha Long Bay and the grotto. Today, it
remains to the right-hand side of the entrance.
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