Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Belum Caves

Belum caves is the second longest cave system in India which is around 3 kilometres length. APDTC (Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) developed this place into an excellent tourism spot,which won the best eco-tourism award of the country. The caves are about 120 ft. down the ground level with streams, stalactite& stalagmite formations,with very narrow tunnels at some places.

Belum caves in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh can be reached easily from Bangalore,Hyderabad( by road) & from Chennai (by train).I visited this place on 24 July 2005 . I started from Chennai on saturday afternoon by train 'Mumbai mail' to reach Tadipatri station at 8 PM. That night I stayed in a hotel and next day morning took a bus to Belum caves which is around 30 km distance. The weather was cloudy but very pleasant. While approaching the belum village , I could see a small hill with the words 'Belum' appearing on top of it.
The caves are quite thrilling & excellent and whatever I heard about them is correct. Proper ventilation & lighting arrangements are made. After coming out from the caves, I climbed the adjacent hill where rocks were arranged in the form of word 'Belum'. From the top, I could see all surrounding places clearly.
After spending nearly four hours, I went back to Tadipatri town to catch the train back to Chennai.

1. The board at the entrance. It is written 'the longest cave system in South India. Breath taking view of stalactite & stalagmite formations'
The longest cave structure of the country exist in meghalaya,which is of 21 KM length. Where as Belum caves is of 3 and half Kilometres.



2. The entrance gate. In the background, one can view a small hill, on top of which the words 'Belum' arranged with huge white painted rocks to identify from a distance. The restaurant is just inside the entrance.




3. 'Hotel Punnami' provides accomodation for the visitors. It provides comfortable facilities for the visitors by charging a mere Rs. 40 per day.



4. near Buddha Statue - 1



5. Near Buddha Statue-2




6. At the way to caves. Behind the tourism counter.





7. The entrance gate to the caves .




8. The staircase (30 metres down) to the caves.



9. The pictures inside the caves. The guide took many photos. But I am uploading a few only as clarity is not that much due to darkness inside the caves. Anyway, I can e-mail you the scariest photo where I look as a real Cave man ( my colleagues freaked by seeing the album).



10. In narrow tunnels




11. After spending nearly two hours in the caves, I came upside.



12. Kids playing.The ice-cream & snacks parlour in the back.


13. I climbed up the small hill where the white rocks placed to form the words 'Belum caves' both in english & telugu languages. The big statue is also visible down the hill. And also at the left, the long stretch of the road.



14. The L&T cement factory on the top of small hill on the way to Belum.




15. Travelling in the bus.



3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sukumar for this visual retreat

aravind sundaram said...

Hai,
I'm Aravind. Are there regular buses from Tadipatri to Belum Caves?

Unknown said...

Yes there are regular buses from Tadipatri.