Alutila Cave

The Alutila cave runs about a hundred metres through a hillside near Khagrachhari with a stream flowing along its floor, and it is completely dark inside, so the standard way through is with a burning bamboo torch bought at the entrance, which is sold by vendors at the top of the steps and is part of the arrangement rather than a novelty. The descent to the cave mouth is a long flight of steps into a wooded ravine, and the passage through involves wading in the stream over uneven rock with low sections, coming out at the far end. It takes about twenty minutes underground. The hill above has a viewpoint over the hill tracts and a small park.

What you actually see

• A stream running through the dark - wading the cave floor.
• Bamboo torches at the entrance - the light most visitors use.
• The stepped descent - the long flight into the wooded ravine.
• The hilltop viewpoint - the hill tracts from above the cave.

When to go

November to March. Two hours. Wear shoes you can wet. Avoid after heavy rain, when the stream rises. Weekends bring crowds and the passage backs up.

Honest expectations

It is genuinely dark, wet and slippery, with low sections and uneven rock; injuries happen. Torch smoke in the confined passage is unpleasant. The steps down and back up are a hard climb. Hill tracts permit rules apply to foreigners.

Nearby

Khagrachhari is south; Risang waterfall lies nearby.