Wind Cave

The "Wind Cave" or "Cave of the Winds" is a very popular local tourist destination close to Kuching. It is is located in the limestone area of Bau to the southwest of Kuching. It is about 5 km southwest of Bau. The cave is situated off the Bidi road which passes the Bau Lake. A new sealed road has recently been completed to the cave and the Sarawak River. A parking bay is situated adjacent to the river at the end of the access road from Kuching. Buses are available to Bau.

The Wind Cave was formed during the Jurrassic-Cretaceous period. Excavations by early explorers such as Beccari in 1865 have shown that people inhabited Wind Cave until recent times. Earthenware vessels, charcoal and pieces of marine and freshwater shells were found. The deep pits within the cave may have been made by gold prospectors in the 1930's. 

The major features of the cave include the stalagmites and stalactites, and pillars which form when these two join together. These are all common calcite formations. The minor features include floor cavities, pendants and current scallops. The limestone of the cave is pale grey or blue in colour and is fine-grained. Deposits of clay as well as thin layers of guano or rock phosphate are found throughout the cave.

The floor of the main passage has conical cavities which are separated by blade-like pinnacles of limestone. Stream erosion is evident by the smooth horizontal grooves in the floor and scalloped walls of the passages. These current scallops have a honeycomb appearance and indicate the direction of the flow of water. Another formation are the pendants which are limestone projections approximately 60 cm in length and which hang from the roof of the cave passage.

There are three groups of cave animals: the troglobites, which are restricted to the cave; the troglophiles, which live within the cave but can also exist in outside environments; and the trogloxenes, which use the cave for roosting but feed outside the cave.

Inside the cave, gastropods (molluscs) have been found on the walls and floor of the stream passage. These snails are unique to each limestone area. On the limestone mountain, 12 different species have been found, which include Opisthoporus rostellatus, Brotia costula and Gastroptychia adversa.

A variety of birds can be found along the river and on the limestone hill. Several types of bats inhabit the cave and can be seen hanging from the cave ceiling. The black nest swiftlets (Aerodramus maximus) can be seen and heard in the cave.

The above is some information that I have copied from Sarawak Forestry website. If you want to visit the website, just click on the link. If you are not from Kuching and have any inquiries, click on this link. But I tell you, I think it is more interesting for you if you continue to read here.

First of all, these are the pictures of the entrance.

Next, this is the customer service centre.

The entrance fee is RM3 for adults and RM1.50 for student, senior citizen, and disabled person. Children below 6 years old are allowed free entrance. If you would like to rent a torchlight, it is also RM3 per torchlight. So please remember to bring your own torchlight. As it is completely dark in the cave, you should really bring a powerful torchlight.

And this will be the map.

A closer look.

As you can see on the map, there are 3 different trails that you can start with. But actually, they are all the same as they are interconnected.

This is the entrance of the passage no. 1.

Next, some of the things that you can see in the cave.

So, these are all that I can show you. If you want to see more, you can go there yourself.

Extra information:

Make sure that your shoes are not slippery. It is wet inside the cave.

Make sure that you bring yourself a powerful torchlight. 1 torchlight per person.

Not littering.

No writing on rocks, trees and other facilities.

Love the cave.

Contact:

Forest Department Sarawak

Map of Wind Cave, Bau, Kuching:

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