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Borra Caves - Nature's wonder
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A trip to the million-year-old cave could be an exciting experience.
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Tourists thronging Borra Caves. -- Photo K.R. Deepak
The ancient Borra Caves leave one marvelling at Nature's engineering skills. The cool cavern is home for geological formations, perceived religious motifs and tribal worship of Lord Siva.
There are more intricate, artistic and bigger caves. But they are man-made. Borra is unadorned in its primitive beauty and awe-inspiring for its sheer size.
Any tourist left alone amid its cool recesses and eerie silence would feel this manifestation of nature. But such moments are hard to come by. Borra draws tourists from far and near. "I have seen nothing like this," an elated D. Roy Chowdary of Kolkata, who came to see the caves recently, exclaimed.
Tourist Delight
More than 50,000 people visit the caves on an average every year, according to the Manager of the Borra Caves, Ramachandra Rao.
Several religious motifs are read into the patterns on the walls and roof of the caves. Siva-Parvati, Anjaneya, the triumvirate of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the divine sage Narada, etc., are among them.
"The latest discovery is a small Shirdi Sai Baba in his famous sitting posture on the roof of the cave," a guide told this scribe.
The tribals regard the caves as the abode of Bodo Dev (high god). Apart from these motifs, for the devout the continuous falling of water on a Siva Linga appears as if a ceaseless abhishekam is going on. On a niche at a steep point in the cave also Siva is worshipped. Tribals gather in their strength on Sivaratri in the caves and on that day entry is free.
Glorious view
From near the entry to the Borra is a glorious view of the Gosthani taking its origin in the Eastern Ghats flowing in a small stream at the foot of the caves. The river which caters for the drinking water needs of Visakhapatnam city is a thin stream at Borra with a picture postcard beauty. The captivating view has a pristine aura about it. The name Gosthani (cow's udder) accentuates the importance given to purity of water in days of yore.
The discovery of the caves, believed to be 150-million-years old, is credited to William King, a British geologist in 1807. The various geological aspects are also of immense interest. The water percolating down the caves and containing various minerals form mounds called "Stalagmites" while hanging structures from the roof are called stalactites.
In studies made, anthropolgists found stone tools of middle Paleolithic age dating back to 30,000 to 50,000 years.
Earlier tourists had to go down the caves with the help of hand held torchlight and they used encounter certain problems while negotiating some steep gradients. But ever since the lighting arrangements have been made by the Tourism Department the caves are not only devoid of the problems but it has helped tourist appreciate the beauty of the natural wonder better.
Exciting journey
Borra is a true icon of Nature's timelessness and magic. For tourists, the journey to the caves by train from Visakhapatnam criss-crossing peaks and valleys and passing through 42 tunnels in itself is an unforgettable experience.
The train leaves Visakhapatnam Station at around 7 a.m. reaches Borra Caves at around 11 a.m.
The A P Tourism Development Corporation offers a rail cum road package tour with a stopover at the caves. For further details one can contact in person the central reservation manager of APTDC at RTC Complex or call 2746446 or 98480 07022.
G.V. PRASADA SARMA
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Metro Plus
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