 Outside of Belum Caves | |
  location in India Show map of India.svg) Belum Caves (Andhra Pradesh) Show map of Andhra Pradesh | |
| Location | Belum Village inKolimigundla Mandal ofNandyal district |
|---|---|
| Region | Andhra Pradesh,India |
TheBelum Caves, located inNandyala district ofAndhra Pradesh'sRayalaseema region, is the second largest cave system on theIndian subcontinent, known for itsspeleothems, such asstalactite andstalagmite formations. The Belum Caves have long passages, galleries, spacious caverns with fresh water and siphons. This cave system was formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground water from the now-disappeared river Chitravathi. The cave system reaches its deepest point (46 m (151 ft) from entrance level) at the point known asPataalaganga.[1] Belum Caves have a length of 3,229 m (10,593.8 ft), making them the second largest caves on the Indian Subcontinent after theKrem Liat Prah caves inMeghalaya. It is one of the centrally protectedMonuments of National Importance.[2]
Belum came to scientific attention in 1884 by a British surveyor,Robert Bruce Foote and from 1982 to 1984, a team of Germanspeleologists headed by H. Daniel Gebauer conducted a detailed exploration of the caves. In 1988, theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh declared the site protected, and theAndhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) developed the caves as a tourist attraction in February 2002. Today, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) of the caves have been successfully explored, though only 1.5 km (0.9 mi) is accessible to visitors.[1] There are 16 different pathways, including the main entrance and there are deposits ofquartz in the caves. The caves consist of blacklimestone.
The Belum Caves are located near Belum Village inKolimigundla mandal ofNandyal district (earlier inKurnool district) in the state ofAndhra Pradesh. Kolimigundla is situated 3 km (1.9 mi) from Belum Caves.[3] The caves are an 8 km (5.0 mi) drive from Petnikota village.
Belum is part of a larger complex of caves carved out of the limestone deposits in theErramalai region. Other caves include the Billasurgam caves, Sanyasula caves, Yaganti caves, Yerrajari caves, and the Muchchatla Chintamanu caves (caves are calledgavi in the local language).[4]
Even though theBelum Caves were known to local people, the first records of site come from the expedition report of British geologist and archaeologistRobert Bruce Foote, in 1884. Thereafter, the Belum Caves remained unnoticed for almost a century until a German team headed by Herbert Daniel Gebauer conducted detailed exploration of the caves in 1982 and 1983. The German expedition was assisted by Mr Bacham Chalapathi Reddy (retd. Deputy superintendent of police), Mr Pothireddy Rama Subba Reddy (retd. Headmaster), Mr Ramaswami Reddy, Mr Boyu Madduleti, Mr K. Padmanabhaiah, Mr K. Chinnaiah and Mr A. Sunkanna.[5]
Belum Caves are geologically and historically important caves. There are indications thatJains andBuddhists monks occupied these caves centuries ago. ManyBuddhists relics were found inside the caves. These relics are now housed in a museum inAnanthapur.
Archaeological survey of India (ASI) also found remnants of vessels of the pre-Buddhist era and dated the remnants of these objects to 4500 years BCE.[6]
A new and second Indian cavernicolous (inhabiting caves) species of the genusAndhracoides was discovered in the Pataalaganga chamber. The organism is namedAndhracoides gebaueri in honor of Herbert Daniel Gebauer who documented and mapped the complete cave.[7] It is a minor arthropod can't be seen by naked eyes.
The caves were being used to dump wastes from nearby places until 1988. Local people of nearby settlements, notably policemen and residents of Belum Village co-operated with theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh and developed the cave site as a tourist attraction. Finally, their almost two-decade long efforts resulted in the Government of Andhra Pradesh declaring the entire area to be a protected zone. Finally, in 1999, theAndhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) took over the task of beautifying and maintaining the caves. The APTDC who has since been in charge of management, sanctioned Rs. 7.5 million to develop the caves.[6] The APTDC has also developed the pathways of around 2 km (1.2 mi) length in and outside of the caves, provided illumination and has created fresh-air-shafts at the site. Inside the cave, APTDC has installed bridges and staircases, and a canteen, bathrooms and toilet facilities at the entry point. APTDC also has built a Haritha Hotel for accommodation in the vicinity.
There is a sizeableBuddha statue near on a hillock near the caves. One of the caverns at Belum is known as the "Meditation Hall", which was used by Buddhist monks. Relics of the Buddhist period were found here. These relics are now housed in a museum inAnanthapur.
Indian tourists are charged an amount of Rs. 70 for entry, while foreign tourists are charged Rs. 300. At the entrance, there is an electroniccave gate. A metal staircase leads down into the cave.
The entrance pit was originally smaller than what one sees today. It was broadened to fit the staircase, to allow visitors to descend and ascend easily.
The entrance is like that of aPit Cave. From the ground you can only see two pits side by side and a third pit a little further away. After descending around 20 meters by the stairs from the entrance, the caves become horizontal. The first section one enters is called theGebauer Hall, named after the speleologist, H. Daniel Gebauer, who had explored and mapped the caves in 1982-1983. The path toGebauer Hall leads to the second opening, which lies next to the main entrance.
The nearest railhead to reach Belum Caves isTadipatri (in Ananthapuramu district), 30 km (18.6 mi) away. There are daily or weekly trains from Delhi,Mumbai,Chennai, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Kanyakumari,Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore and Goa which halt at Tadipatri railway station. FromTadipatri, one can take a bus to the Belum Caves. Frequently available buses, which ply between Tadipatri and Banaganapalli of Nandyala district, drop you at Belum caves.
