Belum Caves. Andhra Pradesh.

Thogh I've not read the Jules Verne's Classic Sci-fi, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, but now I can somewhat relate to what the character of the novel must have gone through.

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Belum Caves, in Anantapur Distt of Andhra Pradesh is an experience of its own kind. India's second longest caves, longest in India's planes, are experience of a life time. The caves take you 120 feet below the earth. The caves, formed by the water stream running through it hundreds of thousands of years ago, are still growing. There are new paths, new caves that are being explored/discovered and if all goes well, in some time tourists would have much more to explore.

The APTDC guide would tell you all the technical stuffs... the chemical composition of the rocks, why the rocks are porus what the different kinds of rocks are called... but what I was interested in was the sheer magnigicance of nature. There were areas where you cannot stand upright and then there were areas where you can arrange a party for 50 people. There were rocks so soft that will dissolve in water and there were rocks that were not lit as lightmen were not able to sneak a nail into them. The rocks were so porus that water could be seen dripping at various point. The water sneaks in, in rains. And this porus nature of rocks make the the caves extremely humid. Its not too hot in there, but its so humid, you'll sweat like a melting ice. Do carry drinking water in the caves. Its a MUST. The guide tells you before you begin your journey that you'll loose at least 1kg after the trip. And believe me he is right. This is nature's very own sauna bath. This is natural beauty at it mystical best.

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And for a change human intervention helped on enhance the brilliance. That too, intervention from a government body. Not being a cynic, but generally you dont associate a great job in beautification and maintainance of spots, too well with government agencies. But come here and you'll made to sit up and take notice. APTDC has done, hands down, a mind blowing job of lighting the caves. The light, never too over the top to overshadow the marvel of the cave, never too little to hide any detail, was just perfect. The lights take the awe of the gigantic cave a few notches higher. APTDC have done a good job in maintaining the caves and surrounding as well. There's a neat restaurant and the locality in all was clean. The toilets were let down with taps running out of water. Also there were very few road signs on the way. Local people are only tools to navigate.

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And then there is a huge Buddha statue, signifying that Buddhist monks used to maditate in the caves. In the backdrop, a hilltop declares the authority of the place with "Belum Caves" written in extra large fonts.

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AP can be really hot in summers... try to be there in monsoons or winters (unlike me, I was there in 40 degree). But even in that heat, I guess its worth every drop of sweat. Go for it...!!

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Belum Caves. Aanatapur Distt. AP.

330 km from Bangalore. From BTM Layout its 330 km. About 6-6.5 hrs.

BTM to Hebbal (25 km) From Hebbal, take the NH7 to Aanantpur (210 km) . Ananatpur to Tadapatri (60 km). Tadapatri to Belum (35 km).

Road on majority of the route was good. Construction of broader highway, though make a pleasant picture for future, are a little eye-sore and obstacles currently.