Belum Caves
Kurnool District
Andhra Pradesh
Introduction
Kurnool District
Andhra Pradesh
Introduction
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1 - Pillidwaram
Pillidwaram means cats gate. It is a natural arch of stalactites formed in th...
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2 - Saptasvarala Guha or M...
Saptasvarala Guha means chamber of seven notes. The stalactite formations in ...
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3 - Thousand Hoods
This section has amazing stalactite formations shaped like hood of Cobra.
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4 - Banyan Tree Hall
The locals call it "Voodalamari" since it looks like a Banyan Tree with its a...
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5 - Mandapam
This is a huge area inside the cave with magnificent stalactite structures on...
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6 - Patalaganga
It is a small perennial stream which disappears into the depths of the earth.
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7 - Kotilingalu Chamber
This section contains stalactite formations which are akin to shiva lingams. ...
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8 - Dhyan Mandir or Medita...
An interesting formation at Meditation hall looks like a bed with pillow to r...
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Location
The Belum Caves is the largest and longest cave system open to the public on the Indian subcontinent, known for its speleothems, such as stalactite and stalagmite 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. The cave system reaches its deepest point ( 46 m (151 ft) from entrance level) at the point known as Pataalaganga.In Telugu language, it is called Belum Guhalu. Belum Caves have a length of 3,229 m (10,593.8 ft), making them the second largest caves on the Indian Subcontinent after the Krem Liat Prah caves in Meghalaya.
How to Reach
Belum Village is located 106 km from Kurnool and 30Km from Tadipatri. Direct buses ply to Belum & Tadipatri Railway Station is which is 30 km away from the village.
Best time to visit
To completely cover Belum, you might have to walk for more than an hour, which can be tiring in any weather less than pleasant, so Belum can be visited any time of the year. Timings: 10:00AM - 5PM.
Amenities
Accommodation options are scarce around the Belum Caves although Andhra Pradesh Tourism operates a 32-bed dormitory in the vicinity of the caves. Hotels are available at nearest towns like Tadipatri and Banganpalli which are 30 and 20 kilometres away respectively.
Travel tips
Belum caves are located in a small village which is 30Km from Tadipatri.Kurnool and Ananthapur are other places which are well connected by road and rail.
Explore the Popular Sightseeing locations
Places Nearby
Yaganti Caves
Belum caves is 44 Km away from Yaganti Caves.The Yaganti Caves, Yaganti expresses the charismatic splendor of nature which has shaped these sources of eternal beauty of Andhra Pradesh Tourism.
Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary
The uniqueness of this place is the only habitat in the State for the rare and highly endangered Great Indian Bustard living in Open dry grassland interspersed with thorny bushes. It also houses 132 bird species with the Alganur reservoir near the sanctuary frequented annually by migratory species.
Ahobilam Temple
Ahobilam is at a distance of 80 km from Belum Caves Hyderabad. This place is known as Singavelkundram and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the man-lion form of Lord Vishnu, which he took on in order to kill the demon Hiranyakashyapa.
The Great Way to Explore the Significant place
Belum Caves
Introduction
The Belum Caves is the largest and longest cave system open to the public on the Indian subcontinent, known for its speleothems, such as stalactite and stalagmite 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. The cave system reaches its deepest point ( 46 m (151 ft) from entrance level) at the point known as Pataalaganga.In Telugu language, it is called Belum Guhalu. Belum Caves have a length of 3,229 m (10,593.8 ft), making them the second largest caves on the Indian Subcontinent after the Krem Liat Prah caves in Meghalaya.
Significance
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 the Government of Andhra Pradesh and developed the cave site as a tourist attraction.
History
Belum Caves are geologically and historically important caves. There are indications that Jains and Buddhists monks occupied these caves centuries ago. Many Buddhists relics were found inside the caves.Archaeological survey of India (ASI) also found remnants of vessels of the pre-Buddhism era and dated the remnants of these objects to 4500 years BCE.Belum came to scientific attention in 1884 by a British surveyor, Robert Bruce Foote and from 1982 to 1984, a team of German speleologists headed by H. Daniel Gebauer conducted a detailed exploration of the caves. Thereafter in 1988, the state government declared the site protected, and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) developed the caves as a tourist attraction in February 2002. Today, 3.5 km of the caves have been successfully explored, though only 1.5 km is accessible to visitors.There are 16 different pathways, including the main entrance and there are deposits of quartz in the caves. The caves consist of black limestone.
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is a state government agency which promotes tourism in Andhra Pradesh, India. APTDC offers tour packages of Heritage, Nature, Adventure, Health and Rural tourism representing rich historical and natural background of Andhra Pradesh state.
