Belum caves / பெலூம் குகைகள்/ బెలం గుహలు, Belaṁ guhalu, Belum, Kolimigundla, Nandyala District, Andhra Pradesh.

The visit to this Belum Caves was a part of “Shiva and Vishnu Temples / Rock cut Cave temples of Andhra Pradesh  Visit on 24^th June 25^th June 2023”. Had been to this cave after visiting the Shiva and Vishnu temples at Tadipatri.

This is the second largest caves in the Indian sub continent, after the Krem Liat Prah caves in Meghalaya. This cave was used by the Pre historic human beings and latter by the Buddhists and Jains. This cave was formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground water from the river Chitravathi, which is not exists now. The cave is about 3.229 km long with various  & rocks like black lime stones, stalactite and stalagmite formations ie salt and minerals through the dripping of water from the roof and water falls on some places. The cave goes to the depth of about 46 meters ( 151 feet ), below the ground level. The visiting length was restricted to about 1.5 KM, considering safety of the Visitors. The cave’s passage had become narrow on some places due to fall of rock from the ceiling.  Even though there are 16 entrances to this cave only two are used for ventilation and entry. In addition to that, electrical blowers are used to push the fresh air inside the cave.

Cave entry

IMPORTANT MILE STONES OF BELUM CAVES EXPLORATION

Belum cave was identified first by Robert Bruce Foote, a British geologist, archaeologist and a surveyor in 1884 CE. From 1982 to 1984 CE, a team of German speleologists headed by H. Daniel Gebauer conducted a detailed exploration of the caves. In 1989 CE, the Government of Andhra Pradesh Archaeology Department  declared the site as a Natural Heritage monument. Taken over by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) developed the caves as a tourist attraction in February 2003 CE.

Many Buddhists relics were found inside the caves. These relics are now housed in a museum in Ananthapur.

Archaeological survey of India (ASI) also found remnants of vessels of the pre-Buddhist era and dated the remnants of these objects to 4500 years BCE.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +91 97053 89600 may be contacted for further details.

VISITING HOURS

The Cave visiting hours will be 10.00 Hrs to 4.30 hrs.

(Eid al-Adha) Hours might differ

HOW TO REACH

This place Belum is in between Tadipatri and Banaganapalli, and 33 KM, 47 KM from Jammalamudugu, 86 KM from Anantapur, 126 KM from Kadapa, 242 KM from Nellore and 396 KM from Chennai.

LOCATION OF THE BELUM CAVES       : CLICK HERE

1000 hoods

1000 hoods

A Hall

Lion faced

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple/ Chintalarayaswami Temple / ,చింతల వెంకటరమణ స్వామి దేవాలయం Tadipatri, Gandhi Gatta, Anantapur District, Andra Pradesh.

The visit to this Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple was a part of “Shiva and Vishnu Temples / Rock cut Cave temples of Andhra Pradesh Visit”, on 24^th June 25^th June 2023. Had been to this Vishnu Temple after visiting the Sri Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple of the same place.

Moolavar  : Sri Chintala Venkatramana Swamy

Consort    : Sri Amirthavalli Thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are....

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. A Deepa Sthambam, a Pillar and a Thulabaram are in front of the temple. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudan are in front of the temple. Moolavar Sri Chintala Venkatrama Swamy in the sanctum sanctorum is in standing posture. Utsavar is along with Sridevi and Bhudevi. In Koshtam, Maha Vishnu’s various forms are in the Koshtam.

In the praharam Ramanujar & Vedanta Desikar’s Shrine, Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Perumal, Thulasi madam, Ekantha mandapam, Lakshmi Narayana with Alwars and Bhuvaraha Swami. Thayar is in a separate temple facing east, similar to Moolavar. Thayar is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The Main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha adhsithanam with silambu kumudam. The Pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with suare base and naga varkatham. The pilasters are with malai thonga, kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai and poomottu pothyals. The prastaram valapi has the relief of birds and kapotam keerthi mukhas has the reliefs of demons, and deities. Two tier stucco Vesara Vimana is on the prastaram. The Vimana has the stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s various avatars. The Bhitti, sanctum sanctorum walls has the bas reliefs depicts the epic Ramayan. The Upanam has the bas reliefs of kinnaras, Ayyanar and various deities.  Exquisitely carved pillars supports the mukha mandapam.

Thayar Sri Amirthavalli is in a separate temple, with sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The Kodungai of the mukha mandapam has the sculptures of Monkeys with their various actions. The construction is verymuch similar to the Moolavar temple.

The Garuda’s shrine is in the form of a ratha, similar to Hampi.

The temple both Sri Venkatramana Swamy and Amirthavalli Thayar are perhaps the finest architectural works are executed during the Vijayanagara Dynasty. The sculpture carved on the  lower part and up to the cornices, is cut and Carved with exquisite  sharpness and precision.  

Pilasters, Koshtam, Kumbhapanjaram, and sculptures 

Monkeys on the Kodungai

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the experts, the temple was constructed during 16^th Century, most probably by Pemmasani Timmanaidu- II ( Pemmasani is a sect in the Nayakas group ), a local governor  of Vijayanagara Dynasty. And the Rajagopuram was built during Tuluva Dynasty.

The temple is being maintained by the Archaeological survey of India ( ASI  ).

LEGENDS

Since Venkatrama Swami was found under the Chintrala Tree ( Tamarind Tree is called as Chintrala  in Telugu ). Hence Maha Vishnu of this temple is called as Chintala Venkatramana Swamy.

It was further told that Maha Vishnu, asked Timmanaidu to construct a temple for him, who was under the Tamarind tree.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on all important Vaishnava festival days. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 6.00 hrs -13.00 hrs & 4.00 hrs - 8.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Mobile number +9195814 52866, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the banks of river Penna, 900 meters  from Bus stand, about 3.7 KM from Tadipatri railway station, 112 KM from Kadapa, 249 KM from Nellore and 382 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Tadipatri.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Balipeedam

Thulasi madam

Ekanta mandapam

Sculpture with sculptor's name 

Garudan mandapam - Chariot- similar to Hampi

Ramanujar & Vedanta Desikar

Lakshmi Narayana

Bhuvarahar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---