Kurnool: Belum Caves, the second-longest cave system in the Indian subcontinent, have emerged as both a major geological site and a pilgrimage centre in Nandyal district. Nestled in hilly and forested terrain between Banaganapalle in Kurnool and Tadipatri in Anantapur, the caves are accessible from either town at 30 km.
Historically, such caves served as natural shelters for prehistoric humans. Excavations at Belum unearthed clay vessels believed to date back to around 4500 B.C., confirming early habitation. Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, who have studied the site for over a decade, estimate the caves to be nearly 10 million years old. They believe that a branch of the Penna River once flowed underground here, eroding the limestone and carving out the cave network.
While British geologist Robert Bruce Foote first recorded the caves in 1884, it was German speleologist Herbert Daniel Gebauer who extensively explored and mapped them in the 1980s, documenting nearly 3.5 km. Declared a protected site in 1988, the caves were developed for tourism by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) in 1999 and opened to the public in 2002.
Currently, 1.5 km of the caves is open to visitors, with depths ranging from 10 metres at the entrance to 29 metres at the deepest point. Three vertical shafts exist, and 40 steps have been constructed for easy access. Inside, a consistent temperature of 33°C and high humidity are maintained year-round. Natural formations of stalactites and stalagmites adorn the chambers, along with named landmarks such as Simhadwaram, Kotilingalu, Mandapam, Saptaswarala Guha, Dhyana Mandir, Veyipadagalu, and Pathalaganga—a site featuring a perennial stream and a naturally formed lingam.
“On average, around 9,000 people visit the caves every month. We now offer a 10% discount on entry fees for students. Adults are charged `70 and children `50,” said Ch. S. Satyanarayana, assistant project director of the tourism department. With a Haritha guest house nearby, the caves attract visitors from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, especially during holidays and school excursions from August to February.
Archaeologists caution that conservation difficulties include degradation of stalactite and stalagmite formations due to human interference, pollution from tourism, and potential structural damage from uncontrolled access.
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