YERRA ZARI SPRING & CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

What seems to be the top of the arched mouth of a considerable cave shows just just above a great talus of limestone blocks, the result of a fall from the cliff. The presence of a permanent flowing spring emerging from the talus a little distance [away?] renders the existence of a cave in the hill above it very probable (FOOTE, R B 1884a: 33). SITUATION: At the south end of the cliffs forming a group of limestone cliffs south of the Yerra Zari Gabbi (FOOTE, R B 1884a: 33). IDENTITY: The permanent flowing spring (FOOTE, R B 1884a: 33) is possibly the Spring indicated on Survey of India sheet 57-i/03 (edition 1983) near (±150 m) N15°20'24”: E078°08'33”: 310 m asl (Everest 1830) and thus at almost the same elevation as the spring at the –>Yaganti temple or Yegunta pagoda (FOOTE, R B 1884a: 33) and Yaganti pagoda (CAMMIADE, L A 1927: 11) indicated as Sri Yaganta Eshwaraswami Temple on the same toposheet. FOOTE, R B (1884a: 33) located his spring above a great talus of limestone blocksbut I have seen at the base of the escarpment and a century later another perennial -- and much welcome -- source of water (In January 1981 just enough delivery to quench one's thirst) which was rising from jungle-clad boulders without obviously visible but blocked cave entrance. -My spring- has been located near (±500 m) N15°20'40”: E078°08'30” (Everest 1830) and at the base of the escarpment rising from the more or less level ground (and peacock country) which is crossed when travelling from the village of Patapadu (note 1) initially north-west towards –>Yaganti (note 2) but turning after 1 km or 1.5 km along the road to the west for the Yerra Zari ravine (note 3). Walking from the Banganapalle - Pyapalle road north towards the mouth of the Yerra Zari ravine, -my spring- was on the western (orrographically right) side of the route upstream.but I have seen at the base of the escarpment and a century later another perennial -- and much welcome -- source of water (In January 1981 just enough delivery to quench one's thirst) which was rising from jungle-clad boulders without obviously visible but blocked cave entrance. -My spring- has been located near (±500 m) N15°20'40”: E078°08'30” (Everest 1830) and at the base of the escarpment rising from the more or less level ground (and peacock country) which is crossed when travelling from the village of Patapadu (note 1) initially north-west towards –>Yaganti (note 2) but turning after 1 km or 1.5 km along the road to the west for the Yerra Zari ravine (note 3). Walking from the Banganapalle - Pyapalle road north towards the mouth of the Yerra Zari ravine, -my spring- was on the western (orrographically right) side of the route upstream.