Enugu State: 5 Must See Sites In The Coal City State

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Enugu State is not called “The Coal City State” for nothing; it was a rich coal mining town in 1912, and coals from its coal fields were exported via Port Harcourt to foreign countries. Coal was discovered in the Southeast Nigerian state in 1909 by a team of British geologists who facilitated the construction of a railroad linking Enugu to Port Harcourt.

Located in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Enugu State was created on August 27, 1991; and the name Enu-gu means “top of the hill”. Major towns and cities in the state include Nsukka, Oji River, Awgu, Nkanu, Ezza, Ogbodu Aba, Lejja, Amaokwe, Umana, Achi, Opi, lnyi, Ngwo, Nenwe, and Oduma etc.

There are some must-see tourists sites when you visit Enugu, the Coal City State, below are some of them:

i. Ngwo Cave and Waterfall

The Ngwo Cave and Waterfall are located at the Ngwo Pine Forest where a heavy waterfall descends from overhead limestone rocks. The waterfall forms a shallow pool at the cave floor before flowing out as a stream into the wild. Apart from the waterfall, there are several caves that are tucked away into the rock, and you can access some of them by climbing while some are easily within reach.

ii. Ani Ozalla Lake

There is the Ani Ozalla Lake and the Ani Ozalla Shrine, both located close to Ozalla in Nkanu West LGA. The Ani Ozalla Lake is a natural body of water with numerous number of crocodiles which are regarded as sacred – incarnations of the river goddess who at the promptings of the chief priest come to accept offerings from supplicants.

iii. Ezeagu Tourist Complex

Set in the most natural terrains, the Ezeagu tourist complex comprises of a body of water, a lake, a natural spring, and a cave that stretches for three kilometers on end. This venue attracts various visitors and tourists from across Enugu State and beyond, and it is a place to spend some vacations or stay out the cultural festivities.

iv. Ugwueme/Udi Hills

The Ugwueme and Udi Hills are very suitable for mountaineering activities and other landscaping purposes. They are situated hundreds of meters above sea level, and underneath these hills are the coal mines where coal mining took place for exporting several years ago. There are also several tunnels that you can climb into to have a feel of what natural coal mining is all about.

v. Silicon Hill

No, this Silicon Hill is not situated in the Silicon Valley of California, it is in Enugu State; and fine enough, it is close to the Nkalagu campus of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). This hill has a large deposit of the mineral “silicon,” and it is over 300 meters above sea level. You just cannot resist the breathtaking views of the hills, valleys, and plains as they present an awe-inspiring blend.