Malavika Mohanan Instagram – Imagine discovering a secret water world tucked beneath the earth’s surface- voila, the Cenotes of Mexico!
Some are like giant natural bathtubs, open to the sky, surrounded by lush jungle, while others are tucked away like secret caves, only accessible through a narrow opening..
I’d read about Cenotes during an afternoon of wanderlusting almost a decade ago, and they seemed so faraway to me, I only hoped that one day I might be able to experience it.
What I didn’t know prior to this trip though was the historical and cultural significance of these sites, which makes it so much more interesting-
To the Maya, cenotes held deep spiritual and cultural significance. They were considered sacred gateways to the underworld, known as ‘Xibalba’, the realm of the dead. Maya believed that the cenotes were a place where the gods resided, and the water within was seen as a direct link to the divine. As a result, cenotes were often used for religious rituals, including offerings and human sacrifices, to appease the gods or seek guidance.
(I’m sure the Mayas are looking down scowling at me for taking these photographs. Quite an antithesis of what they intended it to be 🤷🏻♀️) | Posted on 21/Jan/2025 17:31:05
