Mahavatar Babaji’s Cave

An Honest guide to Babajis Cave in Kukuchina in the Dunagiri area and travelling there as many people have created Youtube videos around the area however I find that they white wash the trip and what you experience travelling there and what it is like.

Journey to Mahavatar Babaji’s Cave

Google Map Link

In January 2025, we set off on the Journey to Stillness pilgrimage—a 15-day trip guided by Mahavatar Babaji. The goal was to visit places connected to Him, places He had visited or blessed, and to experience the energy of these sacred sites.

If you want to understand the beauty of Mahavatar Babaji and the power of the places we visited, including this cave, you can read more about it [here]. For years, I had wanted to visit the cave after reading about it in Autobiography of a Yogi—the way it was described, the energy, the history—it all called to me.

Expectations vs. Reality

Whenever you visit a spiritually significant place, you have to balance expectations with reality. The more well-known a site becomes, the more commercialization creeps in, often bringing people who are there for financial gain rather than spiritual connection. You see this all over India—temples surrounded by shops and distractions—which, to be honest, is a little sad. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but it’s just the way things are now.

That being said, huge respect and gratitude go to the Yogoda Satsanga Society (SRF) community, who have done an incredible job maintaining the area around Babaji’s Cave. The path leading up to it is well-kept, clean, and looked after with so much love. As we walked, we couldn’t help but think about the dedication of those who built and continue to maintain it—it’s clearly a labor of devotion.

Taking Our Time

Most people do a quick visit—staying about an hour or so in the area, driving in, hiking up, meditating briefly in the cave, and then heading out. But we wanted to take our time.

We stayed just five minutes from the start of the hike so we could go at our own pace. We visited the cave twice, allowing ourselves to really soak in the space and its energy. The amazing kitchen crew at Joshi Guest House packed lunches for us both days, so we didn’t have to rush. We hiked up slowly, meditated in the cave as long as we wanted, and then had lunch overlooking the valley on the way back down.

The Hike to Babaji’s Cave

We started just after breakfast around 9 AM. The weather was perfect—not too hot, not too cold—and the sky was completely clear. There was no one else around, so when we got to the cave, we had it all to ourselves for ages.

The hike starts at a sign that says Babaji’s Cave this way, and from there, you slowly make your way up, going deeper into the mountains.

To be honest, the hike isn’t too difficult if you walk regularly. The only thing that makes it a little challenging is the altitude—the air is thinner and drier, which means you might need to stop for a break here and there. Some people in our group weren’t used to hiking and had to pause a few times, but even so, it wasn’t a long or difficult trek. Thanks to the SRF’s work, the path is well-maintained, so you’re not scrambling over rocks or dealing with rough terrain.

The entrance to the hike is easy to miss if not for the big blue sign. It starts at the bottom of a steep road, just below a few rock huts. From there, you just keep walking, step by step, until you find yourself at the cave—surrounded by silence, stillness, and the presence of Babaji.

As you head up behind the huts, the path starts by following the base of the mountain, gradually leading you upwards. The beginning is a bit of a climb, but it eases out pretty quickly, becoming more gradual and easier to walk.

One of the most beautiful spots along the way is a ridge where you have to step slightly off the main path. The view from there is incredible—expansive valleys stretching out in front of you, just pure, untouched beauty. It’s one of those places where you just have to pause, take a deep breath, and soak it all in.

If you look at the images, you can see how well-maintained the entire trail is. From what I could tell, it seems like one dedicated person from the SRF team takes care of the paths, keeping them spotless. It’s impressive—there’s barely a trace of litter anywhere, which is rare in places that see regular visitors.

About five to ten minutes after the lookout point—just after a short climb up some steep stairs—you reach the Yogoda Satsanga Hut. This is a peaceful little retreat with a beautiful meditation hall, a super clean toilet (which is always appreciated), and a small shop selling pictures of the Kriya Masters, books, and a few other spiritual items. The energy here is really serene, making it a great place to sit, meditate, and just be still—especially after spending time up at the cave.

We stopped at the YSS meditation hut for a bit to warm up after being in the cave. Since the cave is in the shade, it was noticeably colder up there, and the break was much needed.

It’s easy to mistake the meditation hall for the cave itself, especially since there aren’t any signs after the hall—only just before the cave entrance do you see a small sign indicating that the cave is still further up.

As we continued, the path wound around the mountain, gradually leading us to the actual cave entrance. There was a sign displaying summer and winter visiting hours, but from what we could tell, these seemed to be more of a guideline than a strict rule. While it’s probably best to follow them, we did meet people who had been in the cave as late as 4:30 PM.

Reaching the Cave

Standing at the entrance, it really hit us—the sheer grace of being here. Traveling all the way from South Africa, then making our way over two days to reach this sacred place where Mahavatar Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya… it was incredible. And now, stepping into the cave to practice Kriya Yoga—it was beyond words.

One of the people in our group was about to be initiated into Kriya inside the cave. After receiving Shaktipat—the transference of Mahavatar Babaji’s grace—so that the Kriya Yoga practice could carry its full spiritual power, we practiced together as a group. Without Shaktipat, it’s like being given a Porsche without the keys—something is missing.

The energy inside the cave was indescribable. No words could truly capture what it felt like to sit there, meditating, practicing Kriya, and just being in that space. Even now, sitting back home in South Africa, I find myself wondering—was it real? Did I actually go there?

We all agreed that our second visit to the cave was even deeper. Knowing the path, the distance, and exactly where the cave was allowed us to be more mentally prepared, making the experience even more profound. If you ever visit, I highly recommend planning for at least 2–3 trips up to the cave.

Sitting inside for an hour, meditating, doing Kriya, and simply absorbing the energy was beyond expression.

Afterward, we made our way back down to the YSS hut, then continued to the lookout point, where we sat under the vast blue sky, watching eagles soar above us while enjoying an amazing lunch.

Interesting Info

The cave actually goes much deeper than what is accessible today. However, it has been sealed off to prevent people from exploring too far, getting lost, or trying to stay inside indefinitely. This isn’t unique to Babaji’s Cave—the Indian government has sealed many caves in the Himalayas, some of which are rumored to extend as far as Tibet.