Borra Caves - 2nd Longest Cave in Asia

Borra Caves is located near the east coast of India in the Ananatagiri hills of Araku Valley of Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. The elevation of the Ananatagiri hills range between 800 m to 1300 m. The caves are also known as “Borra Guhalu” in the local language, Telugu, which means bored caves. These caves are India’s largest caves raised at an elevation of about 705m, with an array of beautiful big and small speleothems (cave formations) with inconsistent forms of spikes or formed pillars called as Stalactites or Stalagmites. These stalagmites are formed when water dropping from the roof mounds, it contains minerals and calcium bi carbonate. The caves are made of karst, which means a landscape formed by the dissolution of stones or rocks like limestone or gypsum. Borra caves are mainly limestone structures and deep upto 80m, the deepest cave in India.

History

During a geological survey of India in 1807, William King George had discovered these caves.

Legend

Like any other great historical entity, Borra Caves also has a legend associated with it and is narrated by the locals. The tribals who inhabit the villages around the caves have a legend very famous among their tribes. According to the legend, once a cow fell down 60 m through a hole in the roof. These caves were discovered by a local, cowherd, when searching for his cow. It is said that he discovered a stone which looked like a Lingam and he depicted this as an act of god by protecting the cow. The villagers believing the story built a small Shiv Temple outside the cave.

Geography and Climate

Borra caves are situated in Araku Valley in Vishakhapatnam on Ananatagiri hill range, river Gosthani drains into this range, which is the major water supplying river in the city Vishakhapatnam. The cave measures upto 100m long and 75m wide at the entry. There are many stalagmites and stalactites formed and found in the caves. The annual temperature of the area where the caves are located on an average is 25°C and the reported rain falling mostly during the monsoon seasons from northeast goes up to 950mm.