Rajko’s cave is named after the legendary 19th Century military commander Rajko who, according to local folklore, led a double life. After serving guests at the local inn during the day, he would rob the Turkish caravans that passed through the area at night. Locals believe the commander hid his loot in this very cave, which is why it bears his name.
Rajko’s cave is the largest cave in Serbia, with more than 2 kilometres of surveyed canals, of which slightly more than 600 metres are accessible to visitors. The cave is divided into an inflow part and a spring part, both of them featuring two distinct horizons – the dry horizon and the riverine horizon, through which the river of Rajko flows. Since the reconstruction, these two horizons have been connected, thus allowing for round tours of the cave.
As they walk along the cave path, visitors can enjoy the soothing atmosphere created by the sound of the running river, which echoes across the Urchin’s Hall. Apart from this hall, decorated with thousands of calcite tubes on the ceiling, you will also see rosy tufa pools and large calcium recesses with raised edges which collect the water dripping from the ceiling. Once they are filled with water, the tufa pools create a mirror effect reflecting the images of the surrounding walls and creating a stunning sight, which you simply must experience for yourself!
The hall named Winter Fairy Tale, situated above the upper horizon of the cave, takes its name from the sparkly white calcite columns, similar to a snow-covered landscape. Here you will stand face to face with the White Bear, a towering cave figure covered in crystals which glitter in the light. The White Bear is one of the several well-known speleological figures which pique visitors’ imagination both because of their appearance and because of their unusual names; thus, in Rajko’s cave you may also see the Egyptian Goddess, the Snail, the Mushroom-covered Stump and many other figures bearing interesting names.
A narrow passage takes visitors to the Crystal Forest, a hall full of crystal calcite – a very rare sight in other Serbian caves. The temperature inside the cave stays at 8 degrees Celsius, with almost 100 percent air humidity - another distinctive feature of Rajko’s.
A stone hammer found at the entrance to the cave, from the village of Rajkovo, provides proof of the presence of humans in this cave in prehistoric times. Visitors can view the stone hammer by visiting the nearby Museum of Majdanpek, just 2 kilometres away.
The cave is surrounded by beech, maple and oak forests. Together with Rajko’s Cave ad the river Mali Pek, it creates a unique natural ambience.