For the adventurer in you: The top 10 exotic caves from around the world

The hidden treasures of the world captivate the adventurous hearts of common people everyday. Caves are unique; no two caves are the same.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) Ancient civilizations used caves for places of worship or hiding. These caves were preserved and exist to this day.

If you ever find yourself needing excitement and a thrill, visiting a cave is something to do. Here are the top 10 exotic caves of the world:

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St. Pauls Grotto, Malta

Named after St. Paul, this Maltese cave served as the home for St. Paul after he shipwrecked on Malta in A.D. 60. Former Roman prisoner, St. Paul is said to have survived a venomous snake bite and helped perform miracles on the local ill. "The Maltese, in turn, viewed him as a god," explained Perfect Vacation.

Sof Omar Caves, Ethiopia

"Sof Omar is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty," stated Ethiovisit. Legends says, Allah opened the gated to this amazing limestone cave system. He showed the beauty to Sof Omar in the 12th century. This cave was mainly used as a mosque for the sheikh. "Sof Omar caves is truly a natural architectural marvel," explained Perfect Vacation.

Bronze-Age Minoan Caves, Crete, Greece

Crete is loaded with Greek caves, those of which are directly associated with Greek gods. There are more than 3,000 caves in the county, according to Perfect Vacation. One of the Bronze-Age Minoan caves, the Dikton cave, is assumed to be the birth place of Zeus.

Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, France

Paintings of bison, horses and mammoths paint the walls of this 15,000-year-old cave. "A place to enjoy that will invoke deep thought," says Perfect Vacation.

St. Michaels Shrine, Italy

Situated in Monte Sant'Angelo, this cave system is said to have been chosen by the archangel Michael. "It is said that Michael appeared in front of the Bishop of Sipontum around A.D. 490 and declared 'Where the rocks open widely, the sins of men may be pardoned.'"

Dambulla Cave, Sri Lanka

This spectacular cave is located at an elevation of 1,118 feet from the sea level rises a massive rock from surrounding plains of Dambulla of 600 feet high and over 2,000 feet in length, according to SriLankaView. Five

Buddhist cave shrines and many sculptures, paintings and murals are spread throughout this cave.

Corycian Cave, Greece

Located on Mount Parnassus, this cave was a place of worship in ancient Greece. There is an alter-resembling rock perfectly placed in the entrance where, rumor has it, the god Pan and the nymphs worshiped.

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Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize

Reaching this legendary Mayan cave is not easy. "One must hike, wade and underwater swim," states Perfect Vacation. But if you make it, this is a life-changing view.

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Longmen Caves, China

Built into Xiangshan and Longmen Shan hillsides above the Yi River this temple of grottoes hosts a number of Buddhist carvings. The total number of artifacts adds up to 2,345 caves and nichings, 2,800 inscriptions and 40 pagodas.

Elephanta Caves, Gharapuri Island, India

According to Via Fodors, "A quick 30-minute ferry ride from bustling South Mumbai, the Elephant Caves are an ideal half-day trip for anyone who wants a relatively quick glimpse of India's ancient history." Inside the cave, each wall had a "16-foot-tall rock carving of Lorda Shiva, the destroyer, in his many forms, depicting famous events from the Hindu epics," explained Perfect Vacation.

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