>Ajayakumarn at 08:16, 23 May 2021

2021-05-23T08:16:26Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Borra Caves
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = te
| other_name = (Borra Guhalu)
| website =
| image_skyline =
| map_caption = Location within [[Vizianagaram district]]
| pushpin_map = India Andhra Pradesh
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = [[Visakhapatnam district|Visakhapatnam]]
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_land_km2 = 2
| population_as_of =
| population_metro =
| population_blank1 =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_footnotes =
| timezone = [[India Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset = +5:30
| coordinates = {{coord|18|10|N|83|0|E|region:IN-AP|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m = 705
| established_title =
| established_date = 1807
| postal_code =
| image_seal =
| footnotes = Located in [[Borra]] village in the [[Ananthagiri, Vishakapatnam district|Ananthagiri]] hills of [[Eastern Ghats]]
}}

'''The Borra Caves''', also called ''Borra Guhalu'', are located on the East Coast of India, in the [[Ananthagiri, Vishakapatnam district|Ananthagiri]] hills of the [[Araku Valley]] (with hill ranges' elevation varying from {{convert|800|to|1300|m|ft|abbr=on}}) of the [[Visakhapatnam district]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The caves, one of the largest in the country, at an elevation of about {{convert|705|m|ft|abbr=on}}, distinctly exhibit a variety of [[speleothems]] ranging in size and irregularly shaped [[stalactites]] and [[stalagmites]].<ref name=micorbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.microbial-systems-ecology.de/project_geomicrobiology.html |title = Astrobiology & Geomicrobiology|publisher= Division Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Microbiology, Technische Universität München, Germany|access-date=14 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080513211713/http://www.microbial-systems-ecology.de/project_geomicrobiology.html |archive-date = 13 May 2008}}</ref><ref name=indnav>{{cite web|url=http://www.indnav.com/servlet/Browse?mt=goToName&name=Borra+Caves| title=Borra Caves Country : India State : Andhra Pradesh City : Araku Valley|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> The caves are basically [[karstic]] [[limestone]] structures extending to a depth of {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and are considered the deepest caves in India.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jibiJUka3sQC&q=Geology+of+Borra+caves&pg=PA59|title= Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Sinkholes and Karst |author= Barry F. Beck|author2= Adrianne Hagen|others= Florida Sinkhole Research|page= 392|isbn=978-90-6191-987-2 |publisher=Taylor & Francis|date=1 January 1989|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref><ref name =info>[[:File:Borra Caves Info board.JPG]]</ref>

==History==
The native name for the caves is ''Borra Guhalu''. Where ''Borra'' means abdomen in [[Telugu language]] and ''guhalu'' means caves in [[Telugu language]]

The caves were discovered in 1807, by William King George of the [[Geological Survey of India]].<ref name= legend>{{cite web|url=http://www.showcaves.com/english/in/showcaves/Borra.html|title= Borra Caves|publisher=WWW showcaves|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref>

==Legend==
On the discovery of the caves, there are several legends, which the [[tribals]] (Jatapu, Porja, Kondadora, Nookadora, valmiki etc.<ref name =info/>) who inhabit the villages around the caves narrate. The popular legend is that a cow, grazing on the top of the caves, dropped {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}} through a hole in the roof. The [[:wikt:cowherd|cowherd]] while searching for the cow came across the caves. He found a stone inside the cave that resembled a [[Lingam]], which he interpreted as the Lord [[Shiva]] who protected the cow. The village folk who heard the story believed it and since then they have built a small temple for Lord Shiva outside the cave. People flock to the temple for worship and the cave to get a glimpse of the Lingam.<ref name="legend"/>
[[File:Borra Caves Lingam.JPG|thumb|250px|Worship of Stalagmite Lingam inside the Borra Caves]]
Another lyrical legend is that the [[Shiva]] [[Lingam]] representing the [[Hindu]] God Lord [[Shiva]], is found deep in the caves and above which is a stone formation of a cow ([[Sanskrit]]: [[Kamadhenu]]). It is surmised that the udder of this cow is the source of the [[Gosthani River|Gosthani]] (Sanskrit: Cow's udder) River which originates from here, flows through [[Vizianagram]] and [[Visakhapatnam]] districts before emptying into the [[Bay of Bengal]] near [[Bheemunipatnam]].<ref name= legend/>
[[File:Valley Borracaves Eastern Ghats Visakhapatnam.jpg|thumb|250px|A view of Valley from the Borra Caves]]

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Eastern ghats from Borra Caves.jpg|thumb|250px|A view of Eastern Ghats from Borra Caves railway station]]
The caves are located in the [[Araku Valley]] of the Ananthagiri hill range and is drained by the [[Gosthani River]]. At the entry, the cave measures up to {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} horizontally and {{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=on}} vertically. Stalagmite and stalactite formations are found in the caves.<ref name =eco>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecoindia.com/caves/borra.html|title= Borra Caves, Eco India|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref>

The average annual [[temperature]] of Araku hills, where the caves are situated, is about {{convert|25|C|F|abbr=on}}. The average annual [[rainfall]] reported is {{convert|950|mm|ft|abbr=on}} (mostly occurring during the northeast [[monsoon]]).<ref name=borra>{{cite web|url=http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/feb102007/350.pdf|title= Evidences for microbial involvement in the genesis of speleothem carbonates, Borra Caves, Visakhapatnam, India by Sushmitha Baskar, R. Baskar and Anubha Kaushik|publisher=Current Science Journal, Vol 92, No.3|date=10 February 2007|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> The Gosthani river provides water supply to the [[Visakhapatnam]] city.<ref name =info/>

==Geology==

The regional geology in the [[Eastern Ghats]] mobile belt, where the caves are located, is represented by the [[khondalite]] suite of rocks (garnetiferrous [[sillimanite]] [[gneisses]], [[quartz]]o-feldsphatic [[garnet]] [[gneisses]]) of [[Archaen]] age. Quaternary deposits consist of [[red bed]] [[sediments]], [[laterite]]s, pediment fans, [[colluvium]], [[alluvium]] and [[coastal]] [[sand]]s.<ref name="micorbio"/>
The caves in the reserved forest area basically host a variety of [[speleothems]] of various sizes and irregularly shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The [[carbonate rock]]s are pure white, and coarsely [[crystalline]] and the deformed and banded [[marble]]s cover a triangular area of {{convert|2|km2|mi2|abbr=on|spell=in}}; surrounded by [[diopside]]–[[scapolite]]–[[feldspar]] calc-granulites. The [[pyroxenite]] outcrops are dark and massive and include discontinuous [[calc-silicate]] bands, some of brown [[mica]] and others with [[calcite]].<ref name=borra/>

===Formation===
The [[Gosthani River]], which originates from these caves and flows between the solidified stalactites and stalagmites in the karstic limestones formation, is the cause for the development of the odd shapes of structures. Water percolating from the roof of the caves dissolve [[limestone]] and trickle drop by drop to form [[stalactite]]s at the roof of the cave and then dripping down to the ground form [[stalagmite]]s. These deposits have developed into interesting forms and structures inside the caves such as Shiva–Parvati, Mother–Child, Rishi’s beard, human brain, mushrooms, crocodile, temple, church, etc. These shapes have captured the imagination of tourists, while some have been given religious interpretations.<ref name=borra/><ref name=wonder>{{cite web|url=http://in.ygoy.com/2008/10/24/borra-caves-%E2%80%93-a-million-year-old-wonder/|title=Borra Caves – A Million-Year old Wonder|access-date=14 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113140520/http://in.ygoy.com/2008/10/24/borra-caves-%E2%80%93-a-million-year-old-wonder/|archive-date=13 November 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Formations in the caves ===
[[File:Inside borra caves.jpg|thumb|250px|Rock cut inside Borra Caves]]
[[File:Inside borra.jpg|thumb|250px|Formations of rocks inside Borra Caves]]
The caves are deep and totally [[aphotic]]. There is an area in the caves with limited light penetration. The stalactites seen in the caves are about {{convert|0.1|to|3.5|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} in length while the stalagmites are {{convert|1.2|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} long and columns are {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height and {{convert|0.75|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} in width. The height of the cave is {{convert|12|m|ft|abbr=on}} and the length is about {{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The average temperature of the inner cave wall is reported to be about {{convert|16|C|F|abbr=on}}. [[Sulfur]] [[spring (hydrosphere)|springs]] discharge into the cave passages causing [[corrosion]] of limestone. The spring waters display floating [[mucus]]-like [[biofilms]].

These are thick orange microbial mats ({{convert|2.5|to|3|cm|in|abbr=on|disp=sqbr|1}} thick) with patches of yellow biofilms extending {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the aphotic deep cave orifice.<ref name=borra/>

While the caves are basically limestone formations, the area surrounding these are of [[mica]] formations which are prospected for precious stones like rubies.<ref name =eco/>

[[Archeological]] [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] ([[Paleolithic]] implements) have been found in the caves.<ref name = book>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SqO8BDiWudEC&q=Geology+of+Borra+caves&pg=PA103|title= Applying Ecological Principles to Land Management |author= Virginia H. Dale|author2=Richard A. Haeuber |pages=103, 346|isbn= 978-0-387-95100-3 |publisher=Springer|year=2001|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> The excavations carried out in the caves by the archeologists of the Andhra University, have unearthed stone tools of middle Paleolithic culture dating back 30,000 to 50,000 years, which confirm human habitation.<ref name =info/>

===Genesis===
[[Speleothem]] [[carbonates]] found in the caves have been subject to scientific studies. In fluviatile, spring, cave and soil environments microbial carbonates are important. In the biofilms and/or microbial mats, which are formed in the caves, the principal organisms associated are [[bacteria]], particularly [[cyanobacteria]], small [[algae]] and [[fungi]]. [[Petrographic]] analysis of a [[thin section]] has uncovered the presence of [[lithified]] structures and [[micrite]], present as laminated to clotted with chocolate-brown blebs. These are identical to [[microbialites]] observed in modern and ancient stromatolitic carbonates. Laboratory observations with scanning electron microscope (SEM) have also confirmed the presence of calcified bacteria, micro-rods, and needle [[calcite]]. Organic mats (yellow-orange in colour) are made up of mineralized filamentous bacteria, bacterial stalks, [[Cell (biology)|cells]] and sheaths. Thus, these studies have indicated that [[microorganisms]] have actively influenced the genesis of speleothems of the Borra Caves.<ref name=borra/>

==Biological environment==

===Micro organisms===
[[File:Habrobathynella borraensis n. sp.tif|thumb|First cavernicolous ''Habrobathynellid'' discovered by Shabuddin Shaik from Borra Caves, Visakhapatnam, India.]]
The effect of microorganisms in the mats on the cave formation and their role on iron mineral precipitation has been further studied. A report indicates a link between iron–rich mats formation and iron precipitating bacteria.<ref>{{cite journal|title = Precipitation of iron in microbial mats of the spring waters of Borra Caves, Visakhapatnam, India: some geomicrobiological aspects by Sushmitha Baskar, et all of Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, India|publisher= Spring Link, Springer Berlin, Environmental Geology|date=4 December 2007|doi=10.1007/s00254-007-1159-y|volume=56|issue=2|journal=Environmental Geology|pages=237–243|s2cid= 128814523}}</ref>

===Fauna and flora===
[[File:Macaque in Borra caves.jpg|thumb|250px|A Macaque in Borra Caves]]
The [[fauna]] observed in the caves are predominantly bats, as well as the [[golden gecko]]. The type of bat reported is the fulvous fruit bat (''[[Rousettus leschenaultii]]'') – a species which roosts in large caves, old buildings, dungeons and dark areas of old forts. This species has short and slender musculature with large, well developed eyes. They feed on [[flowers]] and [[fruits]], particularly [[jamun]], [[guava]], [[silk]], [[cotton]] and [[mango]].<ref name=borra/><ref name = book/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://apbiodiversity.ap.nic.in/newsletter/APBD_Newsletter_2(1).pdf|title=Biodiversity News of Andhra Pradesh, Volume 2, Issue 1, Fruit Bats of Andhra Pradesh, page 4|date=April–June 2008|access-date=14 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225023022/http://apbiodiversity.ap.nic.in/newsletter/APBD_Newsletter_2(1).pdf|archive-date=25 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Stygofauna===

''Habrobathynella borraensis'' was described from the Borra Caves. It is the first Indian cavernicolous species of the genus ''Habrobathynella''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reddy |first1=Yenumula Ranga |last2=Shaik |first2=Shabuddin |last3=Totakura |first3=Venkateswara Rao |title=Habrobathynella borraensis n. sp. (Syncarida: Bathynellacea: Parabathynellidae) from the Borra Caves of southeastern India, with a note on the taxonomic significance of paragnath morphology |journal=Journal of Crustacean Biology |date=1 January 2014 |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=90–106 |doi=10.1163/1937240X-00002210 |issn=0278-0372|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Location and access==
[[File:Borra Caves Info board.JPG|thumb|250px|Official Information Board outside the Borra Caves]]
The caves are located in the [[Ananthagiri, Visakhapatnam district|Ananthagiri hills range]] of the [[Araku valley]] of the [[Visakhapatnam district]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The caves are {{convert|448|km}} from [[Bhubaneshwar]] in [[Odisha]] and {{convert|656|km}} from [[Hyderabad]], both via National Highway 5. The caves are well connected by [[road]], [[Rail transport|rail]] and air services. The nearest international airport is [[Visakhapatnam Airport]], {{convert|76|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Borra Caves, which is {{convert|12|km}} from the [[Visakhapatnam]] city center. Vishkapatnam is {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} away by road. It is mostly a hill road and the journey takes about three hours.<ref name =eco/>

Train services operate on the [[Kothavalasa]]-[[Kirandul]] railway line in [[East Coast Railway]], [[Indian Railways]]. The train journey over a distance of {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Vishkapatanam railway station passes through Eastern Ghats (hill) section), which has 30 tunnels en route. The journey by train takes about five hours to the Railway Station near the caves called the Borra Guhalu Railway station.<ref name= legend/>

==Visitor information==
[[File:Borra Guhalu Train station.jpg|thumb|250px|Borra Caves (Guhalu) Train station]]
Guided tours for a day trip to the Borra Caves cover interesting attractions like the Tyada Railway Tunnel, Damuku View Point, [[Ananthagiri, Vishakapatnam district|Ananthagiri]] [[Coffee]] [[Plantation]], [[Padmapuram Gardens]] and the Araku Valley. For the benefit of the visitors, an information board at the entry point to the caves gives some details of the caves and its surroundings (pictured).<ref name =info/><ref name=wonder/>
An Arraku and Borra rail-cum-road package tour organized by the [[Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Department]] is available for visitors keen to see the Borra Caves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2001/09/24/stories/102472a4.htm|title=Valley of enchantment|access-date=14 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910001348/http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2001/09/24/stories/102472a4.htm#|archive-date=10 September 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
A walk around the caves provides views of the mountainous area which is rich in flora and fauna. The Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Department has installed 26 [[mercury (element)|mercury]], [[sodium vapor]] and [[halogen]] electric lamps, which provide views of the formations. The Araku valley, a hill station about {{convert|29|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Borra Caves, is also a tourist attraction for people visiting the caves.<ref name =eco/><ref name=wonder/>

November and December are ideal months to visit the caves.<ref name =eco/>

==See also==
* [[Cave research in India]]
* [[List of caves#India|List of Caves in India]]
* [[List of rock-cut temples in India]]
* [https://www.truehab.com/holiday/borra-caves-vizag-visakhapatnam Borra Caves Vizag Visakhapatnam]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
*Ramesh Y (1990). Geomorphic Studies in Upper Gostani River Basin with Special References to Borra (Karst) Caves Visakhapatnam District, A.P., India, India.
*Le Bas, M.J., Subbarao, K.V. and Walsh, J.W. Metacarbonatite or marble? – the case of the carbonate, pyroxenite, calcite-apatite rock complex at Borra, Eastern Ghats, India, ''Journal of Asian Earth Sciences'', 20, 2002, 127–140.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Borra Caves}}

[[Category:Caves of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Geology of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam]]
[[Category:Geography of Visakhapatnam]]
[[Category:Show caves in India]]
[[Category:Geography of Visakhapatnam district]]

[https://www.truehab.com/holiday/borra-caves-vizag-visakhapatnam Borra Caves]

Borra Caves - Revision history

>Ajayakumarn at 08:16, 23 May 2021