Woman emerges from a tunnel leading to Bet Amanuel, in Lalibela, Ethiopia (© Andrew McConnell/plainpicture)

【February 16 2016】At a glance, this may appear to be an ancient cave dwelling. But the opening is the terminus of a tunnel that leads to the Christian Orthodox church called Bet Amanuel, in the town of Lalibela, Ethiopia. It’s one of at least 11 rock-cut churches believed to have been built in the 12th and 13th centuries, during the reign of the king for whom the village is named. Each of the churches is essentially underground, having been carved out of the earth by workers who spent decades constructing the buildings and the many tunnels that connect them. Some of the churches are still in use today. It’s thought that Bet Amanuel was once the private chapel of the Lalibela royal family.Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..