Maharata Cave, Kosti village

Overview

Maharata Cave has been a natural landmark since 1973 and is surrounded by an impressive oak forest.

Due to its location, which is behind the border fence at the Turkish border, to visit it, you need to contact the border police and ask for permission.

The village of Kosti is the closest village to the cave and is at a distance of about 7.5 km, and to get to the cave the transition is mountainous.

During the several-hour trek, centuries-old Strandzha oaks can be seen. In the middle of the transition there is a shelter where you can rest and eat. When you reach the shelter, the border fence is not far.

In the past, it was impossible to reach this border fence because border guards fired without warning. For this reason, tourists still have to ask permission from the border police in order to ensure their safety, as there are deep traps, rusty barbed wire and many traps along the way.

Maharata Cave is close to Rezovska River. It is sunk in a ravine, and a small river descends above its entrance.

This cave is the largest in the Strandzha Mountains, but relatively little is known about it. Its length is 244 m, the displacement is 23 m and the altitude is 199 m.

According to historical data, the Maharata is an ancient Thracian sanctuary of the goddess Mother. It is built of many underground galleries. Today, however, these galleries are covered with stones and can only be reached by the main gallery of the cave.

According to legend, under the Rezovska River there is a hidden gallery leading to Turkey. The ancient Thracians probably mined ore.