Monday, March 25, 2024
HomeIndian Tourist PlacesTourist Places in VizagBorra Caves - Timings, History, Entry Fees, Location, Photos

Borra Caves – Timings, History, Entry Fees, Location, Photos

Borra Caves Vizag:

The Borra Caves (also known as Borra Guhalu) are located in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, among the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley (with hill ranges ranging in elevation from 800 to 1,300 m (2,600 to 4,300 ft)). At an elevation of roughly 705 m (2,313 ft), the caverns are one of the country’s largest, with a range of speleothems ranging in size and irregularly formed stalactites and stalagmites. The caves are karstic limestone structures that reach to a depth of 80 metres (260 feet) and are regarded India’s deepest caves.

Araku Valley

Mudasarlova Park 

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park Vizag

Katiki Waterfalls

Borra Caves History:

The natural caves known as Borra Caves were found in 1807 by William King George of the Indian Geological Survey. There are various legends surrounding the caverns’ discovery, which the tribals (Jatapu, Porja, Kondadora, Nookadora, Valmiki, etc.) who live in the communities surrounding the Borra Caves tell. According to folklore, a cow grazing on the top of the caves fell 60 metres (200 feet) through a breach in the roof. While hunting for the cow, the cowherd came across the caves. Inside the cave, he discovered a stone that resembled a Lingam, which he understood as Lord Shiva, who had protected the cow. Hearing the narrative, the villagers believed it, and they built a modest temple for Lord Shiva outside the cave.

The Borra Caves are extremely deep and completely aphotic. In the caves, there is an area with limited light penetration. Stalactites in the caverns range in length from 0.1 to 3.5 metres (0.3 to 11.5 feet), while stalagmites are 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) long and columns are 6 metres (20 feet) tall and 0.75 metres (2.5 feet) wide. The cave has a height of 12 metres (39 feet) and a length of roughly 200 metres (660 ft). The inner cave wall’s average temperature is reported to be around 16 °C (61 °F). Sulfur springs contaminate the cave channels, causing limestone to corrode. Floating mucus-like biofilms can be seen in the spring waters.

The aphotic deep cave entrance is surrounded by thick orange microbial mats (2.5 to 3 cm [1.0 to 1.2 in] thick) with patches of yellow biofilms extending 3 m (9.8 ft) away.

While the caves themselves are limestone formations, the land around them is comprised of mica formations that are prospected for precious stones such as rubies. In the caves, archaeological items (Palaeolithic tools) have been discovered.

Archeologists from Andhra University excavated caves and discovered stone artefacts from the middle Palaeolithic culture, which date back 30,000 to 50,000 years and confirm human presence.

Formation of Caves:

The peculiar shapes of the formations are the result of the Gosthani River, which rises from these caverns and flows between the stalagmites and stalactites that have formed in the karstic limestone formation. Water trickling down from the cave roofs dissolves limestone, forming stalactites at the top of the cave and stalagmites below when the water drips to the ground. Within the caves, these deposits have taken on intriguing shapes and formations, like Shiva and Parvati, Mother and Child, the beard of Rishi, the human brain, mushrooms, crocodiles, temples, churches, and more. Tourists have been enthralled by these forms, and some have even assigned religious significance to them.

Borra Caves Timings:

10 am to 5 pm every day.

Time Required – 2 to 3 hours

Borra Caves Entry Fees:

Adults pay Rs. 60 to enter the Borra Caves.45 rupees per person for children, 25 rupees for a phone camera, 100 rupees for a digital / still camera and 100 rupees for a video camera

Borra Caves location: Borra Caves, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531149

How to reach Borra Caves in Vizag?

There is good road, rail, and aviation connectivity to the caves. The closest international airport is Visakhapatnam Airport, which is located 12 kilometers from the town of Visakhapatnam and 76 kilometers from Borra Caves. Driving distance is 90 kilometers to Vishkapatnam. The trip takes roughly three hours, and the route is primarily uphill.

The Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line in the East Coast Railway of Indian Railways is serviced by trains. The train travels more than 100 miles from the railway station at Visakhapatnam.The Borra Guhalu Railway Station, which is close to the caves, is reached by train in roughly five hours.

Best time to visit Borra Caves: 

Winter months are ideal for visiting the Borra Caves, these months usually fall between November and February.

Places to visit near Borra Caves:

Chaparai Waterfalls

Tribal Museum Araku Valley

Ananthagiri

Coffee Museum

Padmapuram Botanical Gardens

There are views of the mountainous region, which is abundant in vegetation and fauna, from a stroll around the caves. 26 electric lamps made of halogen, sodium vapor, and mercury have been put by the Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Department to offer views of the formations. For tourists visiting the Borra Caves, there’s also the Araku valley, a hill station around 29 km away.

Borra Caves Distance:

Borra Caves to Araku – 1 hr 19 min (37.1 km) via NH 516E

Borra Caves to Vizag – 2 hr 37 min (90.2 km) via Araku – Visakhapatnam Rd

borra caves to to odisha distance – 9 hr 27 min (427.0 km) via NH16

Borraguhallu to Borra Caves distance – 13 min (950.0 m) via Way to Rly Station and Muliguda – Borra Caves Rd

Borra Caves to Ananthagiri Waterfalls distance – 34 min (11.9 km) via Muliguda – Borra Caves Rd and NH 516E

Borra Caves to Katiki Waterfalls distance – 1 hr 15 min (30.6 km) via NH 516E

Borra Caves to Chaparai Waterfalls distance – 1 hr 45 min (49.2 km) via NH 516E

Borra Caves Photos:

Borra Caves

borracave

borra caves vizag

borra caves timings

admin
admin
Greetings from Viharadarshani! your one stop shop for discovering India's treasures.
RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Stay Connected

2,000FansLike
500FollowersFollow
100FollowersFollow
2,000SubscribersSubscribe

Most Popular

- Advertisment -

Recent Comments