In the 12th century, the isolated town of Roha, set high in the mountains of Lasta, was the capital of the Zagwe dynasty. According to local legend, the later king Lalibela was born the younger brother of the incumbent king. Yet both his mother and the brother had visions that Lalibela was chosen to become the new king which led the brother to abdicate.
King Lalibela during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem got inspired to create a 'New Jerusalem' built into the rock of Roha. After his coronation, he hired craftsmen and artisans and supposedly thousands of workers to built the marvelous rock churches and, thus, make his vision become reality.
Yet, most details around the creation of the churches remain a mystery. As a visitor to this town, you will certainly learn loads of facts and legends. I resisted the temptation to place caches in the direct surrounding of the churches in order not to disturb the serenity of the area. Yet, the place where this cache is located is ideal to relax after a day of visiting the churches while you are enjoying a glorious sunset. Or, gather strength here in the morning from the breathtaking scenery before you set out to explore.
Caution! There are frequently villagers passing the location of the cache on the way from and to town. Look around and do your best not to be watched when going to search around for the cache.
Note by the owner (July 2019):
After four years in Ethiopia, my time in the 'Land of Origins' came to an end in July 2019. I have done my best to widen and maintain the net of geocaches in the country, but now need to call on my fellow cachers for help: If you venture out to search for this cache, please take a replacement container with you, just in case the original is gone. - Sundowner74 |