A creepy "Istana Ular" (Snakes Cave) at Lembor Manggarai - Flores

Istana Ular is located 70 kilometer from Labuan Bajo en route to Ruteng (1 hour driving). After reaching Lembor, you can ask around the turn to Daleng Village. (around 7 kilometer from Lembor on the left).

To reach the cave, you can rent motorcycle or walk. Its better to  use the second option, as the road was too bumpy to ride a motorcycle. The air was hot and humid, the surrounding was very dry. Usually, the villager you met agreed to take you to the cave. From the main road reaching the cave was around 6 kilometer. There was a shortcut. It was a tunnel in the hill that functions as irrigation channel from the nearby river.

If you want to visit the snake cave, make sure that you are equipped with the flash light, first aid, bottle water, sun screen and it is better to wear longs leaves shirt and the shoes to protect you from the bite.

 

The cave has a foul smell from the bats. In the entrance, you can found snake skin. According to the villagers, if we were "lucky", there will be lot of snakes hang-out in the cave, but for this one should perform a ritual that involves local leader.

The first phyton was found less than 10 meter on the right hand side. It curled in the corner wall of the cave. Another one was laying stretched just in the opposite of the curling snake. The explore further, you can see the giant snake, quite huge. Inside the cave was hot, muddy and stink.

Highly recommended to use the services of a local guide from nearest village and doing little rituals in accordance with local tradition before enter to the cave. Typically, a small chicken sacrifices to be made in the traditional rituals.