YANGON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar tourism authorities is making efforts to boost tourism with an ancient limestone cave Esathara Cave in Hpa-an, eastern Kayin state while ensuring not to damage the natural environment, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Monday.

Authorities are striving to build better roads for tourist and improve access to the cave, with a depth of some 1,000 feet (300 meters), located on the Esathara mountain near Naungpalain village.

The cave is accessible by traveling on Hpa-an-Hlaingbwe road and turning into the Mebaung-Naung Palain road and then after some 11 km there is a checkpoint that diverts into a dirt path and into the cave entrance near which a reclining Buddha image can be seen.

The cave is filled with numerous natural beauties and at the end of the passage there is a small opening 3 meters above the cave floor that can be accessed with a bamboo ladder.

Kayin State Chief Minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint surveyed the cave site on Sunday to ensure no modification or changes are carried out that will damage the natural environment of the area.

Hpa-an is a central tourist attraction in Kayin state that houses natural caverns, scenes of the state's traditions and culture, waterfalls, hot spring and other tourist destinations, for which Hpa-an received the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award-2018.