Bankovitsa is a vertical sinkhole cave by the village of Karlukovo, Lukovit municipality, Lovech province. It is not near Brestnitsa and Saeva Dupka but in the Karlukovo karst complex, together with the Temnata Dupka, Prohodna, Svirchovitsa and Haydushka caves.
The cave lies 1.5 km north-east of Karlukovo, in the Pladnishteto area, at the western end of the dry Baran valley. After snowmelt and heavy rain water runs down the valley and falls into the cave as a 17 m waterfall. Prohodna is 500 m to the east and Svirchovitsa 300 m to the north.
The opening is 24 by 12 m, and the entrance shaft is 17.5–29.3 m deep. Beyond it lies a series of huge chambers joined by muddy passages, vertical steps and lakes that are descended on ropes. At the bottom, through a narrow shaft and 50 m of rope, you reach the lower water level. The cave is active, with dripping water, lakes and streams. 33 known cave species live in it, among them bats, spiders and centipedes.
No. Entry to Bankovitsa is allowed only for monitoring, scientific research and organised caving expeditions. You can see the entrance from outside, but its edge is sheer and dangerous, so keep back.
Prohodna (the Eyes of God) is 500 m away and open to visitors, so Karlukovo is worth the trip even without Bankovitsa.
Lovech region
0.2 km away
Lovech region
0.3 km away
Lovech region
5.7 km away
Lovech region
7.7 km away
Bankovitsa is located in Lovech, Bulgaria.
Bankovitsa is most easily reached by car. Use the coordinates above to navigate, or open the location in OpenStreetMap or your preferred maps app for turn-by-turn directions. Public transport options vary by region — for remote destinations a rental car gives the most flexibility.
Caves can be visited year-round — the temperature inside stays roughly 10–12°C regardless of season. Spring and autumn are quieter than peak summer. Bring a warm layer and sturdy footwear; some caves close in winter when access roads become impassable.
Access to caves varies. Show caves typically run guided tours during posted opening hours; wild caves require proper equipment and experience. Inside, the temperature stays cool year-round (~10–12°C) — bring a warm layer, sturdy non-slip footwear, and a torch even on guided tours.
