| Belum
Caves |
|
| Andhra
Pradesh, India |
| Earth's Natural Wonders in
Asia |
| Length of Cases:10,580
ft. (3,226m) |
| Depth of Cases:
30 to 95 ft. (10 to 29 m) |
| |
| |
| Belum Caves are geologically
and historically important caves.
There are indications that Jains
and Buddhists monks were occupying
these caves centuries ago. Many
Buddhists relics were found inside
the caves. |
| |
|
Belum Caves is the second
largest cave in Indian sub-continent
and the longest caves in plains of
Indian Subcontinent. Belum Caves derives
its name from "Bilum" Sanskrit
word for caves. In Telugu language,
it is called Belum Guhalu. Belum Caves
has a length of 3229 meters, making
it the second largest natural caves
in Indian Subcontinent. Belum Caves
have long passages, spacious chambers,
fresh water galleries and siphons.
The caves reach its deepest point
(120 feet from entrance level) at
the point known as Patalganaga.
Belum Caves is located
at Belum Village in Kolimigundla Mandal
of Kurnool District in State of Andhra
Pradesh, India. Kolimigundla is situated
3 km from Belum Caves.
Discovery
Even though the Belum
Caves were known to the locals, the
first records of Caves were mentioned
in expedition report of Robert Bruce
Foote, in 1884. Thereafter, Belum
Caves remained unnoticed for almost
a century till a German team headed
by Herbert Daniel Gebauer conducted
detailed exploration of the caves
in 1982 and 1983. The German expedition
was assisted by the locals Mr B. Chalapathi
Reddy, Mr Ramaswami Reddy, Mr Boyu
Madduleti, Mr K. Padmanabhaiah, Mr
K. Chinnaiah and Mr A. Sunkanna
Historical Performance
Belum Caves are geologically
and historically important caves.
There are indications that Jains and
Buddhists monks were occupying these
caves centuries ago. Many Buddhists
relics were found inside the caves.
These relics are now housed in Museum
at Ananthapur.
Archaeological survey
of India (ASI) also found remnants
of vessels, etc. of pre-Buddhist era
and has dated the remnants of vessels
found in the caves to 4500 BC
