CHENCHULA GUNDALU POTHOLES
15.158300,78.708300
Description
One of the »potholes« (note 1) or whirlpools which »have been created by the youthful streams either below where they fall or where tributary nalas [water courses] join them« (DUTT 1955: 121). ETYMOLOGY: The Telugu "gundalu" is the plural of "gunda" (pool of water) and the Chenchu people is an aboriginal tribe (note 2). SITUATION: »Chenchula Gundalu or Pools of the Chenchu tribe three miles [4.83 km] ESE of Mamidimanu Chelima (15°11': 78°43')« (DUTT, N B S 1955: 121). Since the spring called Mamidimanu Chelima is indicated near (±150 m) N15°11'18”: E078°42'06” (Everest 1830) on the Survey of India sheet 57-i/12 (edition 1981), the polar coordinates 4.83 km east-south-east are probably meant to indicate a spot in the vicinity of N15°09°30”: E078°42'30” (Everest 1830) where the cart track (note 3) crosses the streambed of the Bavanasi River.
NOTE 1: DUTT, N V B S (1955, 1981) mentions »potholes« (whirlpools) called –>Bhirava Gundam, –>Chenchula Gundalu, –>Dhodiyam, –>Kannikala Gundalu, –>Pachagundalu, –>Pedda Ahobilam Potholes, and –>Varaha Gundam. NOTE 2: »Chenchuwar, Chenchuwad or Chenchu.— A forest tribe of the Telugu country of whom a few persons were returned from the Chanda District in 1911. In Madras the tribe is known as Chenchu, and the affix wad or wadu merely signifies person or man [*]« (RUSSEL, R V & HIRA LAL, Rai Bahadur (1916, 1: Glossary). * »Caldwell's Dravidian Grammar, pp. 123 and 134. Captain Glasfurd says: 'The termination "war" is a Telugu affix signifying person or man' (Settlement Report of the Upper Godavari District (1868), p. 26)« (RUSSEL, R V & HIRA LAL, Rai Bahadur 1916, 1 note 434). »The Cad' Eriligaru call themselves Cat' Chensu« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 1: 164). NOTE 3: Near kilometre 3.7 (N15°07'59”: E078°42'09” Everest 1830) on the road from Chinna Ahobilam (N15°07'51”: E078°40'34” Everest 1830) west to Pedda Ahobilam (N15°07'26”: E078°44'11” Everest 1830), the cart track (in 1981 motorable in dry season) off towards north (left) follows the streambed of the Bavanasi River upstream.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | BHAIRAVA GUHA, Pedda Ahobilam | ||
| 4.6 | CHINNA AHOBILAM | ||
| 4.7 | VARAHA GUNDAM POTHOLE | ||
| 5.0 | PEDDA AHOBILAM CAVES | ||
| 6.0 | BHIRAVA GUNDAM POTHOLE | ||
| 7.9 | KANNIKALA GUNDALU POTHOLES | ||
| 15.8 | Pachagundalu Potholes | ||
| 18.2 | BILLAM GUHA, Angampally | ||
| 38.3 | NANDYAL FOREST CAVE |