History, Importance, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Borra Caves, Ananthagiri Hills, Vizag, Andhra Pradesh
The Borra Hills and Caves also known as Borra Guhalu is located on the East Coast of India, in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley of the district in Andhra Pradesh. The Borra Caves is one of the Largest and deepest Caves in India and at height of around 700 mtrs. The caves are basically karstic limestone structures with depth of 80 meters. The caves were discovered in 1807, by William King George of the Geological Survey of India. Borra Caves were formed as a result of the flow of Gosthani River on the limestone deposits. These caves are known for the breath-taking formations such as Shiva-Parvathi, Rishi's Beard, Mother-Child, Crocodile, Human Brain, Tiger and Cows udder.
There are various legends associated with Borra Caves. The one of the popular Legend is that a Cow, grazing on the top of the Caves, dropped through a hole in the roof. The cowherd found a Lingam in this Cave while searching for his cow. The cowherd believed that Lord Shiva has protected his cow. After this incident villagers heard the story believed it and they made a small Temple of Lord Shiva outside the Cave. Today the visitors comes here to worship Lord Shiva and see the glimpse of the Cave.
Bora Caves are mainly inhabited by the bats that feed on flowers and fruits. The major attraction of the Cave is the deem Lightning, interesting formations of the cave make it important place to visit by the tourists. The Borra Caves is the perfect destination to pursue a petite trekking adventure over the weekend along with waters of Katika Waterfalls cascading nearby. Tourist can enjoy watching the panoramic views ranging from sunrise, sunset, thick forests and mountain ranges.
How to reach Borra Caves – Ananthagiri is a beautiful town which is very well connected with the major cities of India via Hyderabad. Autorikshaw/cabs are easily available in the town. The Vizag - Araku train halts at the station Borra Caves, which is 5 km away from the cave site. The caves are well-lit at night, courtesy the AP tourism department. The nearest Air Connectivity is Visakhapatnam Airport at a distance of 58kms.
