Belum caves was a detour. On our way from Gandikota to Anantapur, we decided to check out Belum caves.
The caves were discovered in 1884 and subsequently, various German teams studied the interior of the caves. The caves are underground and the access is a small set of steps into a pit like area which also has a large skylight. From here, one enters the cave.
The area round the entrance to the cave is surrounded by farmlands. Amidst these are boxes with fans, which we later understood were air vents for the cave. So, while the area above ground is teeming with crops, water bodies, small structures and farmers going about their farming business, there is a whole system of passages hollowed out underground!
The caves are laid out like a river with many tributaries. While some of the branches are connected, many of them are dead ends. The length of the cave is about 3.5 km but only 1 km is open for viewing.
There are spectacular cavernous double height spaces which suddenly branch out into small passages where one has to bend double. There are stalagmites and stalactites which are jagged and craggy in some areas and then there are smooth well rounded walls in other dead ends. The limestone walls have lines etched into them, caused by water. Similarly, there are swirls in the high ceilings which could have been formed over centuries by the flow of water.
Fans are located intermittently for ventilation and there is some weird coloured lighting in various parts of the cave to highlight some rock formations.
Guides have to accompany us into the caves as it is a complicated labyrinth and easy to lose one’s way in.
It is a fascinating place and in my book, the best we have seen , so far, on this trip!
You may find more pictures here at https://photos.app.goo.gl/iXCENUkaiDsuouPF6
Lepakshi is our next stop.
Wide Angles 