[TOURISM] Top five places of interest in Anambra State

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Anambra is a state in southeastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original ‘Oma Mbala’, the native name of the Anambra River. The capital and seat of government is Awka. Onitsha is by far the largest urban area. The state’s theme is “Light of the nation.

Anambra state is blessed with lots of undeveloped tourist sites which can generate huge revenue for the state if developed and below are the list of top 5 places of interest in the state.

 

1. Ogbunike Cave

 

Ogbunike Cave - Ou Travel and Tour
Source: outravelandtour.com

Ogbunike Caves are situated in a valley with tropical rain forest behind the “Ogba” hills in which lies St. Monica College, Ogbunike. Descending into the valley where the caves are located is a lengthy walkway made up of about 317 steps said to have been constructed by the Anambra State Government in the mid 90s. At the end of the walkway is an open space used as a reception point where visitors are by tradition to remove their shoes.
The main cave consists of a massive structure with a big open chamber of about 5m high, 10m wide and 30m long at the entrance. There are ten tunnels at the main chamber leading to different directions. Within the tunnels are big chambers and other tunnels of varying lengths, some of which are interconnected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of various sizes. There are streams and body of water at various places. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapid flowing river (River Nkissa). At the meeting point of the river and the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water.
Beside this portion of the river is a table land of about 5 X 5 square meters used as a relaxation spot by visitors to the caves. The immediate environment of the caves up to about 200 meters radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation. Among the fauna of the site are deer, antelope, grass cutter, porcupine, rabbit, alligator, snakes and frogs. Others are fish, crabs and birds.

 

2. OGBA UKWU CAVE AND WATERFALL

Ogbaukwu Caves presents one of the greatest natural tourist attraction in Anambra State. But very little is known about the site, which has been in existence for many years. Hidden away from the busy routes that crisscross Anambra, the Ogbaukwu Caves and Waterfalls are located in Owerre Ezeukala community that borders three other states: Abia, Enugu and Imo. It is approximately 75 kilometres east of Onitsha. The Ogba Ukwu cave is considered to be one of the largest cave in West Africa, which will take upwards to two hours to explore. It forms a deep and complex rock formation with roomy compartments large enough to take in an entire village. At the centre of Ogba Ukwu, is one large area said to have been the living room of the ‘god’ of Owerre-Ezukala. There is one particular compartment, accessed by the aid of stone steps where an old elephant’s foot still stands, long dead and dry. In another crevice, there is a natural spanner of rock, and in yet another is a gun of stone, as old as the cave. Guided tours in and around it is a wonder, and leaves a visitor dumbfounded to this wonderful work of nature.

 

 

Source: outravelandtour.com
Source: outravelandtour.com

 

 

 

Image result for owerre ezukala cave and waterfall
Source: outravelandtour.com

3. AGULU LAKE

Agulu Lake is one of the numerous sites of attraction, alongside the Ogbunike cave, River Niger, Ikenga Virgin forest, Omashi-iyi cave, Akpu, Odo River and Obutu Lake Omogho, iyi-ocha Lake Amaokpala town, ekwuluimili botanical and herbal garden, Nanka natural springs amongst others all situated in different parts of Anambra State, one the major States in eastern Nigeria which has one of the biggest commercial center in the country.
Immaculate white in colour, and sometimes made green by algae depending on the season of the year, Agulu Lake is very wide, it has a lengthy diameter and beautiful surface area, located along Awka road, Umuowele village in Agulu town, Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra  State.
The Agulu Lake has so many mysteries surrounding its existence, mysteries which still hold and believed in till date. It is said to belong to the deity, ‘Ndemili’, a water god and has special powers.  They say, it chooses whom to harbor and drowns whomever it wishes. Aside this, it habitats several marine species the most famous of them being the crocodile and water turtle which on estimate, they were about three hundred. Fishing is prohibited here and these crocodiles are considered sacred.
The Natural Beauty Called Agulu Lake And Its Crocodiles(pictures ...
Source: Nairaland

 

4. Odinani museum Nri
Odinani museum is located in nri village, anaocha local government area of anambra state, the Museum built over 30 years ago by late Prof M. Angulu Onwuejeogwu houses lots of archaeological discoveries, cultural and traditional religious artifacts.

Image result for odinani museum of Nri

 

 

5. IYIOCHA LAKE AMAOKPALA
This is a long and still lake at the outskirts of the town.  The far end of the lake is in Oko town where the Federal Polytechnic is located.  The lake is as quiet as the Dead Sea and no aquatic life has been recorded in it.  The mystery behind the lake is that till date no case of drowning of an indigene of the community has been recorded. Mrs. Rose Ezeh, wife of the present Town Union Chairman once fell into the lake and it was about one hour later that rescuers were able to reach her.  Clearly expecting the worst, the locals were however mystified to discover that she had not taken in one single gulp of water.  As soon as she was rescued, she woke up and went home.
The story has it that students of the Polytechnic were at one time, dumping refuse into the lake. But on the night of 3rd September, 2004, between midnight and 2.00am in the morning, there was a continual gushing sound and by morning, the locals discovered that the lake had completely drained out from its near end, an act believed to be a reaction of the water spirit over the dumping refuse into the lake.  It took several months for the waters to return and when it did, it was discovered that the lake had changed its course and mysteriously re-routed it through  Amaokpala town.

 

Source: outravelandtour.com