Belum Caves

Belum runs about three and a half kilometres of mapped passage of which around one and a half is open, making it the longest cave system accessible to visitors on the Indian mainland. It was formed by an underground river in limestone, and the route descends through chambers with stalactite and flowstone formations to the deepest accessible point at about forty-six metres, called Patalaganga, where a stream disappears. A chamber with a natural acoustic property is called the musical chamber, and another is said to have been used by monks, with Buddhist and Jain remains found at the entrance. Ventilation shafts have been sunk to make the passages breathable.

What you actually see

• The long passages - about a kilometre and a half of open cave.
• Patalaganga - the deepest point where a stream disappears underground.
• The formations - stalactites, flowstone and chamber features.
• The Buddha statue - the modern figure at the surface above the caves.

When to go

October to February; the plains above are severely hot from March. The cave is warm and humid inside despite the ventilation shafts, so early visits are more comfortable.

Honest expectations

Passages are low in places, requiring stooping, and the air is hot and close despite the shafts. Lighting is basic. Access without a car is awkward and the area is remote.

Nearby

Gandikota lies south; Tadipatri is northwest.