5 Best Caves in Andra Pradesh

A veil of darkness cloaks the natural beauty of caves, the Koh-I-Noor of India; the state of Andhra Pradesh abounds in a variety of tourist attractions which includes forests, caves, beaches and hills. The second-longest coastline among the states of India, after Gujarat - with jurisdiction over almost 15,000 km of territorial waters. The state is bordered by Telangana in the north-west, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in the north-east, Karnataka in the west, Tamil Nadu in the south, and to the east lies the Bay of Bengal.

Hidden mysteries, unmatched adventure and nature's best kept secrets, these are the first thoughts that come to mind when we think of 'caves'. Nature never fails to leave us awestruck with its splendour and myriad wonders, and caves are undoubtedly one of its most magnificent creations.

Let's scroll down to the stunning caves at mysteries tourist hub Andra Pradesh.

1.Akkana Madanna cave:



Akkana Madanna caves are actually temple destinations in Vijayawada. They are called as caves because even though the temple was built in the 17th century, the caves date back to 6th and 7th centuries. Even there is a predecessor cave nearby that belongs to 2nd century BC and this nearby cave is also a temple spot with idols of Trimurti, the Brahma, the Vishnu and the Shiva.

These caves are situated on the way to Kanaka Durga temple and are dedicated to Akkana and Madanna who were ministers in the court of Abdul Hasan Tanashah in the 17th century. A short distance from these caves is another cave dating back to 2nd century BC which hosts the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.

2.Belum Caves:



Belum caves are located in a small village with the name same. The Belum Village is located 106 km from Kurnool.These caves, which get their name from the Sanskrit word bilum (hole), were formed by the action of water flowing on limestone deposits over millions of years, forming stalactites, stalagmites, siphons, sink holes, and water galleries In the 1980s, Indian officials worked with a German expedition to explore and map the caves. The relics found in the caves dated back to around 4500 BC and showed that the caves had been inhabited by ancient Buddhist and Jain monks.

3.Borra Caves:



Located in the Ananthagiri mandal of the Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh are one of the largest caves of the country known as Borra Caves.Discovered by William King George of the Geological Survey of India.
The villagers built a small temple outside the cave which is visited by the people coming here. Another popular belief is that the Shiva Lingam found here had a stone formation of cow above it and the udder of this cow is believed to be the source for Gosthani river that flows through the Vizag city These caves are known for the breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite formations such as Shiva-Parvathi, Rishi's Beard, Mother-Child, Crocodile, Human Brain, Tiger and Cows udder.

4.Erravaram Caves:



Erravaram Caves are located on the left bank of Yeleru river, at a distance of 45 km from Rajahmundry on Vishakhapatnam route On the eastern side of the village is the hillock of Dhanala- dibba on which the Erravaram Caves are situated. Numerous excavations of this Buddhist site has revealed that the historic remains date back to 100 AD and the site had flourished from 1st century BC to 2nd century AD The excavation has 2 caves, 6 water cisterns, traces of vihara, stupas and Mahastupas (big stupas), Chaitya.

5.Guttikonda Bilam:



Bilam is actually a Sanskrit word that brings the meaning Cave and Guthikonda here is the name of the village in which the cave is located. This cave has been enticing historians and archaeologists for many decades now as it stands as storehouse of mysteries of ancient heritage of the nation.
Guthikona Bilam is the forest and nothing is accessible within 4 km. So carry enough water and food.Carry a torch light to explore the cave. Guthikonda Caves (also spelt as Guttikonda Caves) have been tantalizing archeologists and historians for ages since they are repositories of mysteries of India's ancient heritage.

This cave is not constant inside the height of inner surface changes some place you need to sit and walk with add more thrill.

By Felisha Rita