A million year old Wonder - Borra Caves

The Borra Caves, also called Borra Guhalu (in Telugu language ‘Borra’ means something that has bored into the ground and ‘guhalu’ means caves) is highly renowned for its attractive stalactite and stalagmite formations and is located on the East Coast of India, at 1400 meter above sea level in Anantagiri hills of the Araku valley area of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh. The Caves are considered the largest and deepest cave in India. Rock at Borra Caves date back to a million years. Borra caves are the natural caves, that are said to have originated from the Gosthani river, which flows through these caves.

Bearing archaeological importance, the Borra Caves have historical and religious significance also. The Caves, one of the largest in the country, at an elevation of about 2,313.0 ft, and depth of 262.5 ft, these caves are a million year oldspeleothems ranging from very small to big and irregularly shaped stalactites and stalagmites. These 300 feet thick roofed Borra Caves are spread over an area of one Square kilometre.

Gosthani river

In 1807, William King George the British geologist discovered some Paleolithic implements assumed to be a million years old. There are several tales pertaining to the discovery of these caves. The most popular being about the cow that fell into the hole of the cave. According to the local tribals once a cowherd lost his cow while grazing. He soon realized that his cow had fallen down. He got worried, on looking down he found 60 feet deep hole, where he saw his cow was alive and feeding on the grass deep below. This was the time when the tribal has discovered the cave. The news spread in the nearby villages and soon a temple for Lord Shiva was built just outside the cave.

Even today, local folks throng to this place to worship the Shivalinga and the idol of the holy cow Kamadenu, which is place deep in the caves. The stone formations in the Borra Caves bear a resemblance to the udder (sthani) of a cow and hence it got the name Gosthani.

The humic acid in the water reacts with calcium carbonate in the limestone and dissolves the minerals breaking the rock gradually. The perennial water flow over a period of time results in the formation of caves. Stalagmites are formed due water percolating from the roof containing calcium bi carbonate and other minerals from mounds. Same way stalactites are also formed and because of their different shapes tourist and locals have given different names to them. Inside the cave you can find a Shiva Lingam formed due to the Stalagmite accumulation. One can see different formations of the stalactites and stalagmites as Shiv-Paravathi, Mother-Child, Rushi's Beard, Human Brain, Crocodile, Tiger and Cows udder.

Stalactites in Borra Caves

The caves are colorfully illuminated with electricity by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. There are mica mines in and around Borra village and it is believed that there are immense possibilities of mining precious stones like rubies here. A big project known as the Thalipudi Reservoir scheme is being constructed at cost of Rs 4.5 crore across the river Gosthami at Thatipudi.

ENTRY FEE:

• The entry fee for the adults visiting the cave is Rs 25 and for the children is Rs 15. 
• If you are interested in photography you may take the cameras along with yourself that may cost you Rs 10 and for the video cameras they will charge you Rs 100.

VISITING TIME:

• November and December are considered as the best time to visit these caves.
• The cave remains open to the tourists from 10 am to 5: 30 pm.

ACCOMMODATION:

There is no accommodation available close to Borra caves, nearest point is Tyda Jungle bells 15 km or at Anantagiri hill resort (10 km) of AP tourism . However there are plenty of hotels available at Araku 36 km and at Vizag 92 km.

HOW TO REACH BORRA CAVES?

• Visakhapatnam is nearest city to reach Borra caves. You can reach Visakhapatnam by air, road, and train.
• Borra Caves are enroute to Araku Valley and it many prefer touching both the places in a single go. The Caves are just 29 Km on road from Araku Valley.
• There is a daily Rail cum Road package tours available from Visakhapatnam to Araku valley.