Crystal chamber in the heart of the mountain

If you happen to wander around the Djerdap National Park, you will discover the oasis of wilderness, history and hidden natural wonders. One of the natural monuments, that can easily leave you wondering, is Rajko’s Cave. The cave is located in the foothills of Homolje Mountains, well hidden among the trees, rivers, and rocks. The names of the chambers and ornaments give a good impression of nature's creativity: the Giant Organ, the Egyptian Goddess, the Elephant Parade, and the Crystal Chamber.

2 km of trails inside the Rajko’s Cave

Rajko’s Cave is located close to the small town of Majdanpek, around 120 km from Belgrade. This area is an undiscovered touristic treasure, as you will rarely find it in guides. Still, you are guaranteed to make some postcard-like photos and distinctive memories from the visit.

The biggest artists of the marvelous cave decorations are rivers Rajkova, Jankova I Paskova. Even though they are very small, they’ve formed an elongated system of tunnels, halls, and chambers. The cave belongs to the river-type of the cave, and it’s longest researched halls go more than 2 km far. There is also an underground confluence of the two small rivers in the cave.

The natural art formations

Most of the cave formations, pillars, and jewelry are made out of the white crystal calcite, giving sort of an unusual feel to the place.

At the very entrance, you will step into the Hedgehog’s Chamber, that got its name from the extremely sharp white stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The chamber is 20m long and from there you can take two routes around the cave: one upstream from the river Rajkova and the other so-called dry plateau in the opposite direction of the river.

The most breathtaking cave jewelry and views will be found alongside the second route where will take you the spiral iron stairs. Some of the most notable sculptures and cave formations are the Giant Organ, Red Waterfall, and lastly the Crystal Chamber, also known as “The Crystal Town”.

Who is Rajko from the cave’s name?

The locals don’t lack the creativity when it comes to the local legends and stories about the history of the cave and how it got its name. One of the most common beliefs is that it’s named after duke Rajko, the Serbian outcast in the times of Ottomans. The legend says that he was a part of a wild freedom-fighting group that greeted Turkish landlords and viziers and stole the taxes and gold that they collected from the Serbian people. The ultimate goal was not to get rich but to do as much damage as possible to the Ottomans. After stealing the goodies, Rajko would hide the treasure in the cave, that now carries his name.

This legend inspired many people to come explore the cave, and try to demystify where the hero from Serbian myths hid the treasures. Some suggest that it could be in the Rajkova river that goes as deep as the 400m inside the cave.

If you are an explorer at heart, or just love unusual places that keep illustrating how unique our planet is, you will enjoy Rajko’s cave. Maybe some are feeling hesitant about going east just to visit this some cave, but there are some other hidden treasures to help you decide in favor of visiting. Just to name a few: Golubac Fortress, Lepenski Vir site, and Djerdap National Park.