Borra Caves

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title: "Borra Caves" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["caves-of-andhra-pradesh", "geology-of-andhra-pradesh", "show-caves-in-india"] topic_path: "science/earth-science" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borra_Caves" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameBorra Caves
native_nameBorrā Guhalu
native_name_langte
image_skylineHistoric Borra Caves main entrance in Araku Valley.jpg
map_captionLocation within Vizianagaram district
pushpin_mapIndia Andhra Pradesh
pushpin_label_positionright
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Andhra Pradesh, India
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameIndia
subdivision_type1State
subdivision_name1Andhra Pradesh
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Alluri Sitharama Raju
unit_prefImperial
area_land_km22
timezoneIST
utc_offset+5:30
coordinates
elevation_m705
established_date1807
footnotesLocated in Borra village in the Ananthagiri hills of Eastern Ghats
::

| official_name = Borra Caves | native_name = Borrā Guhalu | native_name_lang = te | other_name = | website = | image_skyline = Historic Borra Caves main entrance in Araku Valley.jpg | 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 = Alluri Sitharama Raju | 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 = IST | utc_offset = +5:30 | coordinates = | elevation_m = 705 | established_title = | established_date = 1807 | postal_code = | image_seal = | footnotes = Located in Borra village in the Ananthagiri hills of Eastern Ghats

The Borra Caves (Borrā Guhalu) are located on the East Coast of India, in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley (with hill ranges' elevation varying from 800 to) of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh. The caves, one of the largest in the country, at an elevation of about 705 m, distinctly exhibit a variety of speleothems ranging in size and irregularly shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The caves are basically karstic limestone structures extending to a depth of 80 m, and are considered the deepest caves in India. The native name for the caves is Borrā Guhalu where Borra means abdomen in and Guhalu means caves in Telugu language.

Etymology

Borra is Telugu word in native North Andhra dialect which means hole('Boriya' in standard Telugu).

Legend

On the discovery of the caves, there are several legends, which the tribals (Jatapu, Porja, Kondadora, Nookadora, valmiki etc. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Borra_Caves_Lingam.JPG" caption="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 (Sanskrit: Cow's udder) River which originates from here, flows through Vizianagram and Visakhapatnam districts before emptying into the Bay of Bengal near Bheemunipatnam. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Valley_Borracaves_Eastern_Ghats_Visakhapatnam.jpg" caption="A view of Valley from the Borra Caves"] ::

Geography and climate

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Eastern_ghats_from_Borra_Caves.jpg" caption="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 100 m horizontally and 75 m vertically. Stalagmite and stalactite formations are found in the caves.

The average annual temperature of Araku hills, where the caves are situated, is about 25 C. The average annual rainfall reported is 950 mm (mostly occurring during the northeast monsoon). The Gosthani river provides water supply to the Visakhapatnam city.

Geology

The regional geology in the Eastern Ghats mobile belt, where the caves are located, is represented by the khondalite suite of rocks (garnetiferous sillimanite gneisses, quartzo-feldsphatic garnet gneisses) of Archaen age. Quaternary deposits consist of red bed sediments, laterites, pediment fans, colluvium, alluvium and coastal sands. The caves in the reserved forest area basically host a variety of speleothems of various sizes and irregularly shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The carbonate rocks are pure white, and coarsely crystalline and the deformed and banded marbles cover a triangular area of 2 km2; 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.

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 stalactites at the roof of the cave and then dripping down to the ground form stalagmites. 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, etc. These shapes have captured the imagination of tourists, while some have been given religious interpretations.

Formations in the caves

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Inside_borra_caves.jpg" caption="Rock cut inside Borra Caves"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Inside_borra.jpg" caption="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 0.1 to in length while the stalagmites are 1.2 m long and columns are 6 m in height and 0.75 m in width. The height of the cave is 12 m and the length is about 200 m. The average temperature of the inner cave wall is reported to be about 16 C. Sulfur springs discharge into the cave passages causing corrosion of limestone. The spring waters display floating mucus-like biofilms.

These are thick orange microbial mats (2.5 to thick) with patches of yellow biofilms extending 3 m from the aphotic deep cave orifice.

While the caves are basically limestone formations, the area surrounding these are of mica formations which are prospected for precious stones like rubies.

Archeological artifacts (Paleolithic implements) have been found in the caves. 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.

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, cells and sheaths. Thus, these studies have indicated that microorganisms have actively influenced the genesis of speleothems of the Borra Caves.

Biological environment

Micro organisms

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Habrobathynella_borraensis_n._sp.tif" caption="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.

Fauna and flora

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Macaque_in_Borra_caves.jpg" caption="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.

Stygofauna

Habrobathynella borraensis was described from the Borra Caves. It is the first Indian cavernicolous species of the genus Habrobathynella.

Location and access

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Borra_Caves_Info_board.JPG" caption="Official Information Board outside the Borra Caves"] ::

The caves are located in the Ananthagiri hills range of the Araku valley of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh. The caves are 448 km from Bhubaneshwar in Odisha and 656 km from Hyderabad, both via National Highway 5. The caves are well connected by road, rail and air services. The nearest international airport is Visakhapatnam Airport, 76 km from Borra Caves, which is 12 km from the Visakhapatnam city center. Vishkapatnam is 90 km away by road. It is mostly a hill road and the journey takes about three hours.

Train services operate on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line in East Coast Railway, Indian Railways. The train journey over a distance of 100 km 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.

Visitor information

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Borra_Guhalu_railway_station_in_Kothavalasa–Kirandul_line_03.jpg" caption="Borra Guhalu railway station in Kothavalasa–Kirandul line"] ::

Guided tours for a day trip to the Borra Caves cover interesting attractions like the Tyada Railway Tunnel, Damuku View Point, 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). 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. 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, sodium vapor and halogen electric lamps, which provide views of the formations. The Araku valley, a hill station about 29 km from the Borra Caves, is also a tourist attraction for people visiting the caves.

November and December are ideal months to visit the caves. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Borra_caves_1.jpg" caption="Borra caves 1"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Borra_caves_2.jpg" caption="Borra caves 2"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Borra_caves_3.jpg" caption="Borra caves 4"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Borra_caves_7.jpg" caption="Borra caves 7"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Borra_caves_8.jpg" caption="Borra caves 8"] ::

References

  • 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.

References

  1. "Astrobiology & Geomicrobiology". Division Microbial Systems Ecology, Department of Microbiology, Technische Universität München, Germany.
  2. "Borra Caves Country : India State : Andhra Pradesh City : Araku Valley".
  3. Barry F. Beck. (1 January 1989). "Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Sinkholes and Karst". Taylor & Francis.
  4. [[:File:Borra Caves Info board.JPG]]
  5. "borra meaning in Telugu".
  6. "Borra Caves". WWW showcaves.
  7. "Borra Caves, Eco India".
  8. (10 February 2007). "Evidences for microbial involvement in the genesis of speleothem carbonates, Borra Caves, Visakhapatnam, India by Sushmitha Baskar, R. Baskar and Anubha Kaushik". Current Science Journal, Vol 92, No.3.
  9. "Borra Caves – A Million-Year old Wonder".
  10. Virginia H. Dale. (2001). "Applying Ecological Principles to Land Management". Springer.
  11. (4 December 2007). "Precipitation of iron in microbial mats of the spring waters of Borra Caves, Visakhapatnam, India: some geomicrobiological aspects". Spring Link, Springer Berlin, Environmental Geology.
  12. (1 January 2014). "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 of Crustacean Biology.
  13. "Valley of enchantment".

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