Belum Caves, andhra pradesh ,India unesco selection criteria

1. The Belum caves

3. Region- Andhra Pradesh
Location- Kolimigundla Mandal of Kurnool District in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Founded in- 1988
Telugu name- Belum Guhalu
Entry fee- local tourist Rs. 65.00 pp
Foreign tourists Rs. 300 pp
Timing- 10am to 5.30pm
How to reach- from Kurnool; you can take a bus or hire a taxi to reach the Belum
caves.
Rank- second largest cave in India.
Belum caves
fact file

4. Maps
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5. Maps
Find more maps at slidescarnival.com/extra-free-resources-icons-and-maps

6. Who is responsible for looking after the site?
 Finally, in 1999, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism
Development Corporation took over the task of
beautifying and maintaining the caves.
 The APTDC who has since been in charge of
management, sanctioned Rs. 7,5 million to develop
the caves.
 Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation
(APTDC) developed the caves as a tourist
attraction in February 2002.

7. Do they have enough money and expertise? Changes made
by them?
 The APTDC has also developed the pathways of around 2
km (1.2 mi) length in and outside of the caves, provided
illumination and has created fresh-air-shafts at the site.
Inside the cave.
 APTDC has installed bridges and staircases, and a canteen,
bathrooms and toilet facilities at the entry point. APTDC
also has built a Haritha Hotel for accommodation in the
vicinity.

8. Do local people conserve the
site?
The caves were being used to dump wastes from
nearby places until 1988.
Local people of nearby settlements, notably
Policemen and residents of Belum Village co-
operated with the Government of Andhra Pradesh
and developed the cave site as a tourist
attraction.

9. awardsAwards to APTDC for Belum
Caves.
In, 2003, APTDC won the
prestigious "National Tourism
Awards" instituted by Ministry of
Tourism and Culture,
Government of India, for its
initiatives in developing and
promoting Belum Caves.
Belum caves was also adjudged
the best destination award
2002 at the Tourism and Travel
Fair held in Bangalore in 2002.

10. Utility of the site when it was
built and it's utility Today.

11. The Belum Caves were known to local people, the first
records of site come from the expedition report of
British geologist and archaeologist Robert Bruce
Foote, in 1884.
Thereafter, the Belum Caves remained unnoticed for
almost a century until a German team headed by
Herbert Daniel Gebauer conducted detailed
exploration of the caves in 1982 and 1983.
4,500 BC remnants of vessels of that age were found
in the caves.
Occupied by Jain and Buddhist monks, over two
thousands years ago.

12. History
Second largest
cave in Indian
subcontinent
12

13. 1884 :- Discovered by British geologist archaeologist Mr. Robert
Bruce Foots.
 1982 and 1983 :- Explored by German Herbert Daniel Gebauer.
 1988 :- Declared protected by the Government of Andhra
Pradesh.
 1999:- Development of cave by Andhra Pradesh Tourism
Development Corporation started.
 2002 :- In February cave opened for public.
(The caves were being used to dump wastes from nearby place
until 1988).
Going back the years !

14. Description
Belum caves are one of the most fascinating
tourist spot in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
This historical cave is the longest cave system in
India next to Krem Liat Prah in Meghalaya
These caves are adorned with unique formations
such as stalactite and stalagmite formations, which
adds enchanting beauty to the caves.

15. Let’s review
✗ The caves were formed over a period of
millions of years with the constant
formation of limestone.
✗ Belum cave has got lots of various long
passages, galleries, large cavities with fresh
water and water tunnels.
✗ Locals used to draw water during summers
✗ The most striking features of the cave is the
stunning rock formations called
Saptasvarala Guha
15

16. Usp for belum caves

17. 17
The Beautiful Buddha
at Belum
Cavernous Corridors
Breath-taking Natural
Creations
The Den of Meditation
The Legend of a Saint’s
Bed

18.  a perennial underground
stream with a natural
waterfall called "Patalganga"
 which starts at one point and
ends mysteriously on another
point deep inside of Earth.

19.  Another natural geological
phenomenon due to the
movement of Subterranean
water has created three
amazing Sink Holes.

20.  Those who want to train their
knuckles hitting hard surfaces
are welcome to "The Chamber of
Seven Notes" (Saptasvarala
Guha).

21.  Natural Art resembling the hoods
of thousands of Cobras, a lion
head-shaped
 entrance called "Simhadwaram",
the “Kotilingalu” Chamber, which
is another stalactite formation,
and "Voodalamaari"

22. 22

23. 23
Bora caves Belum caves

24. Anantgiri hills
eastern ghats Kurnool
district

25. Borra caves
✨How old are the caves :
•150 million years old.
✨How are these caves formed:
•Studies suggest that the Borra caves
were formed due to the flow of
Gosthani River on limestone deposit.
✨Caves size
•The total length of the caves is about
200m.
Belum caves
✨How old are the caves :
• discovered several remnants
and old vessels that date back
to 4500 BC.
✨How are these caves formed:
History of the Belum Caves These
caves formed due to the
continuous deposition of limestone
over millions of years ago.
✨Caves size
length of 3229 meters, making it
the second largest natural caves in
Indian Subcontinent.
Comparison between Belum caves and Bora caves

26. Borra caves
✨When we're these caves discovered
and by whom?
•William king the British Geologist
discovered the caves in 1807.(Geological
Survey of India)
✨Who takes care of Borra caves.
•Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Department
looks after the caves .
✨ Artifacts found in the caves:
•Anthropologists found tools made of stone ,
belonging to the Middle of Paleolithic Age (
30,000 to 50,000 years ago)
Belum caves
✨When we're these caves discovered
and by whom?
 Originally discovered in 1884 by a
British surveyor Robert Bruce Foote,.
 Later in 1982-84, a team of German
speleologists headed by H Daniel
Gebauer conducted a detailed
exploration of the caves.
✨Who takes care of Belum caves?
• Andhra Pradesh State Tourism
Department looks after the caves
✨Artifacts found in the caves:
• Some really unique Buddhist and
Jain relics have been found at the
Belum caves.
Comparison between Belum caves and Bora caves

27. Borra caves
✨What has APTDC done for the caves
• The APTDC have developed the site with
amazing lighting inside to make the caves
interior come to life for visual pleasure.
•AP tourism has a Haritha restaurant here
which serves lunch and refreshments to tourist.
•They also look after the maintenance of the
caves .
✨Attractions
• The Tribal Museum of Araku Valley is a
wonderful look into the culture and lifestyle
of the tribal communities that live nearby.
• Padampura Gardens and Katika Waterfalls
are other destinations in the close vicinity of
the Borra Caves.
Belum caves
✨What has APTDC done for the caves?
o APTDC has developed the pathways in
around 2 km of the length of the caves,
provided soft illumination and has created
fresh-air-shafts in the caves.
o The Belum Caves Festival in Andhra
Pradesh
o At many places inside the cave, APTDC
has installed bridges, staircase, etc.
o Created a canteen, washroom and toilet
facilities near the entry point.
✨Attractions
• Gooty fort
• Tadipatri
• Gandikota.
Comparison between Belum caves and Bora caves

28. The Tribal Museum of Araku
Padampura Gardens Katika Waterfalls
Gandikota(60 km)
Tadipatri
Gooty Fort

29. 29
Borra caves
✨Facts about the caves:
 formation of Stalagmite Lingam inside the
Borra caves which is worshiped .
 Stalagmite and Stalactites in the caves have
various interesting shapes there are formation
resembling Shiva - Parvati, Mother and Child
the beard of a saint, a crocodile and even a
stalagmite in the shape of a human brain .
 The Dandakaranya Bolangir, Kibur railway
track runs over the Borra caves .
✨Are the caves UNESCO?
Archeological Survey of India have
recommended to be include as A world Heritage
Site, they are currently studying the caves to find
out in which all criteria they can fit in.
Belum caves
✨Facts about the caves:
 Known for its speleothems, such as
stalactite and stalagmite formations.
 The Belum Caves have long
passages, galleries, spacious
caverns with fresh water and
siphons.
 There is a giant Buddha Statue
near a hillock near the Belum
Caves.
 The area of cave known as
"Meditation hall" was used by
Buddhist Monks.
✨Are the caves UNESCO?
No, the government is trying to propose
the plan.
Comparison between Belum caves and Bora caves

30. Criteria that BELUM CAVES qualify
for

31. CRITERION V:
• The Belum Caves is an eminent example of longest
underground cave system in the plains of India.
• The exquisite stalactite and stalagmite formations and the
imaginative color illumination.
• There are indications that Jains and Buddhists monks were
occupying these caves centuries ago.
• Many Buddhists relics were found inside the caves. pre-Buddhist
era and has dated the remnants of vessels found in the caves to
4500 BC.

32. Criteria (vii)
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of
exception natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
• Natural Phenomenon and natural aesthetic
importance.
1: Patalganga
A natural waterfall deep inside which is at the lowest
point of the caves. A mystery unsolved.
2: Three sinkholes
Breathtaking sinkholes which are a feast for Geologist.

33. 3: The Chamber of 7 notes.
Nature musical chamber. A gift of nature.
4: Breath Taking Natural Creations
These creation are made of stalactites and stalagmites.
Simhadwaram
Kotilingalu Chamber
Voodalamari
Thousand hoods

34. ✗ Criteria (viii):- to be outstanding examples representing
major stages of earth's history, including the record of
life, significant on-going geological processes in the
development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or
✗ physiographic features.
Reason :- The cave system was formed over the course of tens
of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground
water from the now-disappeared river Chitravathi.

35. Thanks!
Any questions?