Borra Caves: A Nature’s Wonder

Esha

Borra Caves: A Nature’s Wonder

Amongst the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley are situated Borra Caves which are believed to be more than 150 billion years old. Located at an elevation of 1400 metres above sea level, the view from these caves is breathtaking. From the historical significance to the beauty surrounding the caves– everything will leave one astounded.

Borra Caves; Image source: Travelazzi

Borra Caves are located in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. These caves are situated approximately 90 kilometres away from the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam. Known as the origin point of the Gosthani River, the Borra Caves are one of India’s deepest and largest caves. The Araku hills are situated at a very high level but the average temperature goes up to 25°C whereas the annual rainfall witnessed by the caves is approximately around 950 millimetres.

There is no one source as to where the name of these caves originated from. Some believe that it is derived from the Telugu language where Borra Caves are also known as Borra Guhalu. Here, Borra means abdomen and Guhalu means caves. whereas, in Odia, it means a ‘hole’.

Borra Caves were discovered by William King George, who worked at the geological survey of India in 1807. According to him, the caves came into existence because of the flow of the river Goshthani. Located at the eastern ghat mobile belt, the rocks usually found there are carbonate rocks which are pure white in color and a little irregular in shape. These shapes were formed as a result of stalactite and stalagmite formations (formed by the constant dripping of water along with some other minerals for years).

Also known as the water rocks, these limestone formations led to the development of several unique shapes and structures. Some of these formations have a resemblance of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, a crocodile, Lord Hanuman’s feet, an elephant, a human brain, and even a mother and her child. A naturally formed shivalinga can also be found there and the tribes that reside in the nearby area worship the Linga with utter devotion. The walls of these caves still shine as though they are in their prime age but it is mainly because of the presence of Magnesium and Silica in the walls. The two sides of the caves are named Luv and Kush (Lord Ram and Devi Sita’s two sons) by the locals. As one approaches the end of the cave, the reflection of the caves in the water can be seen easily which doubles up the size of the cave.

Another legend says that the place where the Shiv Lingam was found has a stone formation of a cow above it which is considered the origin point of the river Gosthani which is the source of water for the entire Vishakhapatnam district.

These caves are divided into three levels but as of now only the second of the middle level is open to the public as the level above or first level and the level below or the third level are not quite safe for the public. The entrance to these caves is about 100 metres in height and 75 metres in width. The bottom level is directly connected to the river Gosthani. Originating from the river itself is a waterfall known as the Katiki waterfall. Located near the Borra Caves, this waterfall is a true nature divine with beautiful greenery and uneven pathways making it adventurous for the trekkers.

Since the Borra caves are one of the deepest caves in our country, there’s barely any sunlight coming through the depth of the caves which could be very dangerous for tourists and visitors. To manage this problem, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism industry installed electric lamps to lighten up the paths deep inside the caves. Andhra Pradesh Tourism has done a commendable job in making the Borra Caves a major tourist attraction.

Stone tools from the Paleolithic age are also found here which can be traced back to 30,000- 50,000 years indicating human habitation in the caves.

Borra Guhalu holds great historical significance amongst the nearby communities and tribes that live in the surrounding area. The tribal communities such as Jatapu, Valmiki, Kondadora, Porja, etc. have their legends associated with the caves. One of the tales suggests that these caves were first discovered by a cowherd. One day, while grazing on the top of the cave fell approximately 60 meters downwards through a hole in the cave. The cowherd while searching for his cow came across Borra Caves. While wandering around the cave, he came across the Shiva Lingam and believed that it was none other than Lord Shiva himself who protected his cow. This news spread in all the nearby areas. Thus, the villagers established a temple of Lord Shiva, and people from all the nearby areas came to worship there. Two statues of Nandi are placed in front of the temple.