A Trip To Baguio : Our Lady Of Lourdes Grotto
As much as I want to visit the Cathedral of Baguio, i wasn’t able to get the chance. I was planning to sneak during the Panagbenga Grand Float parade and have a quick visit to the church but I wasn’t expecting that overwhelming amount of people that I can barely move from my position during the parade. Good thing, one of our destination is the well known Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is located on a high hill in the western part of the city.
We thought we can still pursue our trip to Camp John Hay but it is not just getting dark but also started to drizzle. According to our Tour Guide, we cannot enjoy exploring the Camp John Hay because it is raining so we all decided to end our Baguio Trip by visiting the famous Grotto in Baguio.
The grotto is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week most especially during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Access to the top of the grotto could be made by climbing the 252 steps or by driving a light vehicle through a winding, narrow and steep asphalt-paved road. Hey, i was able to conquer’s Kamay Ni Hesus’ Via Dolorosa Grotto’s 305 steps so the 252 steps is just a piece of cake (just kidding, i still had hard time catching my breath while climbing this grotto actually haha)
Much like any Grotto of Lourdes, this shrine was constructed to commemorate the numerous visions of the Virgin Mary by a 14-year old French girl named Bernadette Soubirous. This happened in 1858 from February 11 to July 16 in the town of Lourdes which is in southwestern France. The visions were declared authentic by the Pope in 1862.
Devotees who go up to the grotto to pray usually light up a candle at an altar below the image. There are also vendors at the shrine who are willing to light up a candle for you and say a prayer for whatever personal intentions you might have.
Few more steps to the grotto/
“Tota pulchra es, Maria
Tota pulchra es, Maria means “You are completely beautiful, Mary” part of an old Catholic prayer of the same title.
Near the Grotto is a small chapel with a very serene atmosphere, the “Kapilaya ni Hesus at Maria” (Chapel of Jesus and Mary)
The chapel’s interior with the image of Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Lourdes on right and left sanctuary.
The serene open altar
The rain was starting to fall. Good thing I was able to buy the Strawberry Taho while running my way back to the van.
Next Entry : What To Buy In Baguio
Check Out the rest of my Baguio Trip entries here
Panagbenga Festival Grand Float Parade │ Wright Park and The Mansion│Mines View Park│Cordillera World│Strawberry Farm│Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto │What To Buy In Baguio
I have not been here since the first time I saw the grotto way back… before you were probably born. I think I was around 12 years old, easily over three decades ago. I remember the steps and I remember I didn’t like it.
Good to see your post because it did brought some old memories back. During the time I went there, I remember my cousin and a friend wearing clothes … we called it gypsy back then and breakdancing was the thing.
This place has such a tranquil vibes. I like how you told us a little bit about the history of the place. Great images as always 🙂
Bluedreamer …. a guarantor for amazing posts ! Love coming back to your site again and again ! Your photos are amazing , thanks again for this brilliant piece of reading !
Seems like a perfect place for a pilgrimage. The place looks so serene and peaceful. It’s a good venue for meditation and prayer. Great guide also on what to do here aside from paying homage to Our Lady.
I’ve never been to Baguio, but your post give me a glimpse of the place, hopefully in the near future I can go there and visit this place.
I tried my best to recall if I’ve ever been to this grotto. The first time I went to Baguio was when I was in highschool, so that’s like some 15 years ago. There is a chance I went there, I just couldn’t remember it. But oh well, it would have been interesting to visit the grotto, it looks beautiful. Even the chapel looks nice, simple and it looks peaceful.
Ive never been or heard of this place in Baguio but will definitely stop by if ever I’m there. And of course, strawberry taho. YUM!!!
Reading your posts, it seems that Baguio has a lot of religious places that you can visit. And I like how you always find something good to eat/drink near by and show it to us 🙂
I’ve been there so many times that I lost track of it. Haha. Great post. That strawberry taho makes me wanna go ther again. Thanks for sharing!
Interesting. I will visit baguio this month, maybe I will check this one out. And that strawberry taho thought, craving for it now!
Would you believe that I haven’t been to Baguio yet? If time (and budget haha) permits, hopefully we can spend the holidays there this year with the whole family. Will definitely add this to our itinerary. And as usual, your photos are amazing 🙂
Wonderful post and thanks for the little history lesson, the grotto looks so tranquil and very beautiful! I love all the stairs to it, I have a love for stairs, it’s strange but defeating them gives me good vibes! It’s a pity about the rain but you had a great time it seems?!
As I was reading this post, I was also relieving my memories back when we visited the grotto with my family. It’s always a breather going there after visiting lots of tourist attractions in Baguio. Wish to be back again soon. 🙂
This place will be forever one of my favorite destinations in Baguio. There’s a short cut at the side of the grotto so you wouldn’t need to climb all the steps. Just saying 🙂
I am not quite sure as to why I have never visited this place but it really is quite startling to me since I lived in Baguio for 6 months. It looks serene and peaceful.
I’ve been to Baguio several times and it was only now that I realized I haven’t been to the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto! I thought this is the same with the Cathedral. I’ll visit this the next time I go to Baguio. And I should not miss the strawberry taho.
Climbing that stairs is not for the faint of heart, but it’ll sure be a great breath shortening experience, haha! Shame on me, I’ve been to Baguio several times but I have not tried that strawberry taho.
Why are the best places to visit located in Baguio? </3 I'm really afraid to go there but this kind of place is something I really want to reach. I'm not that religious but grottos are one of my favorites. I just feel relaxed and reborn whenever I spend time in a grotto. I too have conquered the steps of Kamay ni Hesus, I'm sure this would be a piece of cake for me too. :p
♡ Louise
The Lourdes Grotto is only a mere ten minutes walk from where I live haha. Glad you were able to chance a visit at the City of Pines!
God willing, I should be able to visit your lovely country some day.We in India also have some beautiful churches and I grew up in a school run by the Society of Jesuits.I guess, for us international travellers, you should put up a google map also in your posts
I have been to Baguio several times but this is the place that we always fail to visit. The Chapel is so photogenic. Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto will sure be included when we visit Baguio again.
~Jaimie of THE MERMAID IN STILETTOS
Stunning as always! I love seeing the pictures that you share of your travels. You are so blessed to have been able to visit a pilgrimage site like this during Holy Week, doubly blessed to get to do so at such a young age! Did you ever make it up to Camp John Hey?
Bidy @ DearLittlerMe.com
Beautiful pictures!! Looks like an peaceful place to visit!! 🙂