BELLAM GAVI, Guthikonda
16.395100,79.827500
Description
A partly modified, natural temple cave in limestone where a series of man-made steps, flanked by plastered walls, descend down to the south-facing cave entrance, which, marked with a bronze bell, is not only said to be an estimated 2 m wide and high (Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984; REDDY, M N & GEBAUER, H D 1988: 106) but also about »2.3 m long, 1.5 m wide« (WILSON, G D F & RANGA REDDY, Y 2011: 38). The solitary cave entrance leads into a spacious, descending cave chamber (up to 50 m wide, 15 m high and 90 m long) with three distinct lateral "caves" (cave passages) that eventually meet the water table where they either sump or continue more or less flooded with water (after Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss with cave plan). ETYMOLOGY: Caves are often called after nearby villages but in the case of the cave near »Guttikonda« (note 1) or »Guthi Konda« (Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984) and »Guthikonda« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY 2011) the village seems to have got it's name from the shrine on the hill because "gudi" (synonyms: devalam, kovela) is one of the Telugu words for a »temple« (note 2) or a »shrine« (note 3) while "konda" translates as hill, mountain, range (of hills), etc. Compare –>Gooty or »Gooty Town (Gutti)« (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1906-1909, 12: 327-329). So far, I saw this cave called Bellam Cave, Guthi Konda Reddy, M. Narayana (1984.08.11 personal correspondence). Bellam Gavi, Guthi Konda REDDY, M N & GEBAUER (1988: 106) Bilam / Cave at Guthikonda Internet (accessed 2007.12.16) Guthikonda Bilam WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y (2011: 38)Guthikonda Cave WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y (2011: 37, 38, 39 figure 1, 42) Guthikonda Caves indiatourism.com/andhra-pradesh-caves (accessed 2006.05.04) among other Internet websites (accessed 2004.12.22, 2006.05.04, 2007.12.14) Guttikonda Bilam Nani Ravi (2008.04.14) online: nanione.blogspot.com (accessed 2011.05.20). IDENTITY: The "bilam" (Sanskrit, etc. = cave) near the village of Guttikonda (Guthi Konda, Guthikonda) is possibly identical with the unspecified archaeological site named after the small town of »Gurzala« (FOOTE 1916: 77-78; GOSH 1989, 2: Gurzala) or Guruzala and Gurajala (note 4). SITUATION: At travelling distances of about 195 km south-east from Hyderabad (17°22'31”N: 78°28'28”E), some 80 km west from Guntur (N16°18': E080°27'), and 35 km south-east from Guruzala / Gurajala (N16°33'14”: E079°38'07” Everest 1830), the site of the cave seems to be indicated on Survey of India sheet 56-P (edition 1985) with the symbol for a temple near (±250 m) N16°23'38.5”: E079°49'37.0” (Everest 1830) located a) about 4 km south of the village of Guttikonda (N16°26': E079°50' Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985), which is indicated again as »Guttikonda« next to »Police outpost« on AMS sheet NE44-14 Vijayawada (U502 series, 1955 edition) b) near the northern rim of the »Guttikonda R F« (reserved forest) c) about 1.5 km south of the Nagarjuna Right Bank Canal (Jawarlahal Nehru Canal) and d) above the orographically left (western) bank of a relatively small watercourse (no name mentioned) flowing generally north to the village of Guttikonda (N16°26': E079°50' Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985). SITUATION 2011: The cave lies at a travelling distance of »… about 8 km [approximately south-west] from Piduguralla town [note 5] in the Palnadu area [note 6] of Guntur District« and the cave entrance itself lies »at the foot of a hillock in the dense forests of the Nallamala Hills of Eastern Ghats« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 38). SITUATION 2007: Internet websites (note 7) place »Guthikonda Caves, Guthikonda … amidst dense forest« where the »environment here is serene« and in an unspecified spatial relation to the village of »Karempudi« or Karampudi (note 8), which lies at a travelling distance of almost 60 km (38 miles) approximately north-west from Narasaraopet (N16°15': E080°04'). APPROACH 2008: »Reached Guttikonda Village after crossing NSP Canal, and turned our vehicles toward hills. We came to a halt when NSP (Nagarjuna Sagar Project) Canal prevented us to go further. We parked our vehicles on its bank, crossed the canal on a bridge and trekked up to the hill on a well laid road. Even buses also come there up to the hill, if they take NSP Canal right bank road from the State Highway just after Guttikonda village toward Gurajala. The place was surrounded by hills with good greenery. At one point road diverted to right at the base of the hill. There was a temple after a brief ascend.We inquired about Bilam there. Pujaris here were very helpful. One of the Pujaris agreed to accompany us …« (Nani Ravi 2008.04.14 online: nanione.blogspot.com/2009/10/guttikonda-bilam.html accessed 2011.05.20). APPROACH 1984: »It is about 220 kms from here [Hyderabad 17°22'31”N: 78°28'28”E] by bus and 5 kms walk into hillocks -- via that famous Nagarjunasagar dam [note 9] across river Krishna [also: Kistna]. … on a hillock … the 'saga' canal [note 10] running at 1.5 kms from the cave« (Narayana Reddy, M. 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984). POSITION: WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. (2011) positioned Guthikonda Cave at a spot near (unspecified precision error) the coordinates (unidentified geodetic datum possibly WGS84) 16°23'42.4” N: 79°49'38.97” E: 160.7 m asl (unspecified precision error, unidentified geodetic datum, WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 38) equalling 16°23.7067' N: 79°49.6495' E: 160 m asl (unspecified precision error, unidentified geodetic datum, WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 42). Reddy, M. Narayana (1984.08.11 cave plan accompanying Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984) had positioned »Bellam Cave, Guthi Konda« at an elevation of 213 m asl near N 16.5°: E 079.5° but this spot indicates the centre of the relevant Survey of India sheet 56-P (N16°: E79° to N17°: E80°). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2011: »… the Guthikonda Cave … a large natural limestone cave … it is said to have about 11 chambers, with seven passages at the ground level. The south-facing entrance of the cave (2.3 m long, 1.5 m wide) is lined by reinforced concrete and paved with steps, leading into a spacious, descending chamber (c. 50 m wide, 15 m high, and 90 m long) (Gebauer, 2003). The huge and high roof descends more rapidly than the floor, giving rise to a pool of about 1 m depth. The roof is composed of rock with mica schist and limestone. The floor is uneven, with a thick layer of gravel and some huge boulders. No flow of the water was noticed. The cave attracts tourists during the weekends« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 38). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008: »We walked past the temple and entered a small opening of the hill, descending few steps. We didn't even believe what we saw there. There was a very huge hall inside, carved out of that hill. 500 or 600 people can easily sit on the floor. An elevated area at right hand corner was bearing a Shivalingam. So many bats were hanging from the ceiling. Air was filled with the smell of their excreta. Electric bulbs were glowing, so that we were able see the place without much effort. There were tunnels going inside. At the end of each tunnel there was a pool. The first one is directly in front of the hall opening. A pond was visible from the middle of the hall on right hand side. Second tunnel's path starts beside Shivalingam, down slope toward the pond. These two tunnels branched into so many while they go in and each one ends with a pool. One can easily recognise first tunnel. If you go along electric bulbs hanging from the ceiling, you will reach a tiny pond. Just before the pond tunnel branches (Electric bulbs also) left and takes you to a big pool. […] Second tunnel was a very narrow one. One has to incline forward, keep a hand up to know the tunnel's top surface, and move forward. Right from the beginning of this tunnel we bent forward and moved on. Unlike first tunnel its width also was very narrow. Only one can go at a time. If we moved our body a little bit side ways we sensed the walls rubbing our shoulders … We reached the pond … This tunnel branched somewhere and we took bath in that pond also …« (Nani Ravi, nanione.blogspot.com accessed 2011.05.20). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1984: Reddy, M. Narayana (1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984): »The cave appears to be one of the large ones but most of its passages at the ground level -- about 22 metres [deleted: from] below from its mouth on a hillock are flooded with water since about 10 years … Steps were constructed in the cave nos 2 and 3. No. 4 is so wide and huge that no steps are needed to negotiate the straight descend to the water front. There are almost seven passages inside the cave which has an opening of 2 x 2 m lined by a [deleted: stone] R.C.-structure [reinforced concrete] with paintings of sages and gods over it. The huge and high roof descends more rapidly than the floor to meet the 3' [three foot or about 90 cm] water level in cave no. [deleted: 3] 4. The roof is completely of rock with mica schist and limestone. The floor of the main cave contains huge boulders spread on uneven surface with wide and very high rocky roof above. The side passages, i.e. caves 2, 3 have rocky floor but covered with man-made steps with loose rock (slabs) piled like a wall on both sides of the cave passages throughout under the sloping and little arching rocky roof. Except in cave no. 1 where the water is slowly flowing towards North East in other syphons [sumps] or water spots flow of water could not be registered [note 11]. The floor of cave no. 1 is accumulation of a thick layer of gravel under a wide rocky roof with a small gap [note 12] but was dug out all along about 2' to 3' [0.6 to 0.9 m] deep and 2.5' to 3' [0.75 to 0.9 m] wide (trenchlike) up to the water edge. Kerosin light went out at 75 metres. Awful sweating inside the 3 caves. In the 1st cave at its broad end a huge stalagtite [sic! probabile qua: stalactite speleothem, a flowstone formation] like white irregular shaped 2 m rock with its origin on the side and hanging (not loose) downward up to 0.12 m from the floor, has formed. It is about 1.25 m wide. From the end there is a straight passage further 0.40 x 0.30 on a 3' [0.9 m] raised rock layer, extending about 5 m with a tiny Shiva lingam shaped white stone standing in the middle --probably a stalagmite [speleothem]. Beyond this there seems to be an unpassable hole. From the side of the hanging structure mentioned earlier, there is a small narrow passage, 4 m & 3 m at 210° & 350° angles respectively, where one has to enter by crawling and pass by sitting thoughout to a down gradient of 10° & 15° where it ends in a 0.67 diameter 6" [15 cm] deep water hole« (Narayana Reddy, M. 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984). CAVE POTENTIAL: »Another visit with better equipment and preparation as taught by the earlier visits & experiences will enable me to explor the other underground passages (about three or four as shown in the figure [Narayana Reddy 1984.08.11 cave plan] and also collect more accurate measurements and details« (Narayana Reddy, M. 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984). HYDROGRAPHY: »Normally same water levels were noticed in all the ponds … In summer level may recede a bit. Excess water oozes out somewhere and it is used for cultivation purposes« (Nani Ravi, nanione.blogspot.com accessed 2011.05.20 after an unidentified pujari / cave guide). CULTURAL HISTORY: The exploitation as a religious show cave, complete with an annual "mela" (religious fair, kirmis) in July (note 13) led to the fabrication of pious folklore interpreted as »mythical and historic backgrounds« (Narayana Reddy, M. 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984). 1984: »In every July a huge festival [mela] is celebrated at the cave and a large number of pilgrims gather for a day. The three big passages. i.e. cave nos 2, 3 & 4 (marked on the map) are lighted thoughout to facilitate pilgrims to take their holy bath. … Siva [Shiva] lingam on a platform 16 m from the cave mouth was installed in ancient days. The cave is said to be the abode of a mystic Rishi, Muchikonda, and Shri Krishna was said to have moved there. 40 years back a house wife did penance in the cave and her statue over her grave in front of the cave mouth has been installed and worshipped. The graves of her daughters also are there. In the 13th century or so, a great warrior king and devotee is said to have thrown his arms in the waters in cave no. 4 and did penance after his defeat and retreat. The sword [note 14] recovered is in possesion of some local man« (Reddy, M. N. 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984 published in REDDY & GEBAUER 1988: 105-107). 2007: »The subterra mean [sic! qua: subterranean] passage (Bilam / Cave) at Guthikonda yielded an antinnae [sic! qua: ancient? antique] sword cast of copper datable to the ehalcolithic times [note 15]. The cave was used as habitation site by the protohistoric people. The location in forest and the hills attract furnists [note 16] during the week ends« (Internet websites accessed 2007.12.16). 2008: Exit cave (note 17): »Brahma Naidu after Palnadu Battle came here and went into this [first cave passage's] pond and vanished in, Pujari said. […] You can swim in any of these ponds. It is believed there are 108 ponds like that in this marvelous piece of land, Pujari told. … we had dipped in five ponds. What about the rest 103? Pujari told they are believed to be there. No one saw all those. But all those ponds are interconnected and some paths were believed to be under water. Brahma Naidu went inside through one of them. So many enthusiasts lost their way who ventured in, to discover new ponds. So Pujaris, ages ago, closed the routes by putting boulders to their openings« (Nani Ravi, nanione.blogspot.com/2009/10/guttikonda-bilam.html accessed 2011.05.20). 2011: »The cave attracts tourists during weekends. During some Hindu festivals, pilgrims gather in large number and even swim or wade in the cave pools« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 38). CAVE CLIMATE: 2009 January 16: »Some abiotic parameters, as determined on 16 January 2009, were as follows: air temperature 33°C; water temperature 25°C; pH 8.2; dissolved oxygen 6.2 mg/l; salinity 0.47‰; conductivity 713 µS; and turbidity 0.87 NTU« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 38). 1984 August 11: Reddy, M. Narayana (1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984) reported to have experienced »awful sweating inside the 3 caves« (three cave passages), an observation which can be interpreted to indicate a relatively high humidity in the air combined with temperatures, the latter perhaps around 29°C (±2°C to ±3°C). CAVE LIFE: Concerning unidentified bats (Chiroptera) and the noteworthy presence of bat piss and guano, it was one Nani Ravi from Vijayawada who noticed on 14th April 2008 how »so many bats were hanging from the ceiling. Air was filled with the smell of their excreta« (nanione.blogspot.com/2009/10/guttikonda-bilam.html accessed 2011.05.20). Concerning Arthropods, WILSON, George D. F. & RANGA REDDY, Yenumula (2011: 37-53) give a taxonomic description of the freshwater isopod (Crustacea: Phreatoicidea: Hypsimetopidae) Andhracoides shabuddin (gen. nov., sp. nov.) collected from shallow freshwater pools in »Guthikonda Cave … On all three occasions of sampling (27 December 2008, 16 January 2009, and 28 November 2010), Andhracoides shabuddin gen. nov., sp. nov. was abundant (approximately 40 and 100 specimens collected in two instances) and regularly encountered in the four or five chambers of the cave sampled, suggesting that the cave is its prime habitat. In the accompanying fauna, no other stygobionts were observed. The plankton samples of the cave pools, however, yielded a dense population of stygophilic / stygoxene cyclopoids (Mesocyclops sp.). Behaviour: The species is ambulatory, which is also typical of Nichollsia species (Chopra & Tiwari, 1950; Gupta, 1989). The animals were found crawling along the shallow margins of the cave pools. When disturbed, they momentarily kept themselves suspended in the overlying water, and were thus caught by a plankton net. When left in the laboratory in a tray with some water, several specimens crawled out at night, fell on the floor, and were found dead some 3-4 metres from the tray atop a table, probably because of desiccation. This behaviour indicates that this species has a substantial ability to navigate aerial habitats in humid circumstances, as one might find in cave environments. Similar abilities have been noticed in other phreatoicidean isopods … Though uncared for, the specimens of A. shabuddin remained alive in the laboratory for a week« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY, Y. 2011: 38).
NOTE 1: Guttikonda near (±250 m) 16°25'40”N: 79°49'58”E (Everest 1830) on the Survey of India sheet 56-P (edition 1985) is indicated as »Guttikonda« next to »Police outpost« on the AMS sheet NE44-14 Vijayawada (U502 series, 1955 edition). NOTE 2: Temple, a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious reverence. NOTE 3: Shrine, a place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, typically marked by a building or other construction; a place associated with or containing memorabilia of a particular revered person or thing. NOTE 4: Among the archaeological (cave-) sites which Robert Bruce FOOTE (1916: 77-78) had somehow "surveyed" in connection with the –>Karnul caves is the unspecified site of –>Gurzala which I am tempted to associate with the small town of Guruzala 16°34'N: 79°39'E (nima.mil/geonames, accessed 16.11.2003) Gurajala 16°33'14”N: 79°38'07”E (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985); Nani Ravi (2008.04.14 on nanione.blogspot.com accessed 2011.05.20) Guruzala INDIA ROAD ATLAS (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 102 B4); AMS sheet NE44-14 Vijayawada (U502 series, 1955 edition). The small town of »Guruzala« lies on the South Central Railway and about 27 km in a direct line approximately north-west from the »Guttikonda Bilam« (Nani Ravi 2008.04.14 nanione.blogspot.com accessed 2011.05.20) or »Guthikonda Cave … Guthikonda Bilam« (WILSON & REDDY 2011) and »Bellam Cave« (Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss). NOTE 5: Piduguralla near (±250 m) 16°28'38”N: 79°53'07”E (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985). NOTE 6: »Palnad.-- Taluk in the extreme west of Guntur district …The head-quarters were recently transferred from Dachepalle to Guruzala. The taluk is more or less elevated tract, intersected by numerous mountain torrents and almost surrounded by low outliers from the Eastern Ghats. Bounded on the north and west by the Kistna river, which is here both narrow and swift, and fringed on the south and east by by hills and jungles, it is a somewhat inaccessible spot, and its history and natural conditions differ considerably from those of the rest of the district. ÷ The climate is extremely variable. the heat being very great in the summer months, while comparatively low temperatures are registered after the monsoons are over« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 19: 371). NOTE 7: incredibletourism.com/andhra-pradesh-travel (accessed 2007.12.14); indiatourism.com/andhra-pradesh-caves/guthikonda-c… (accessed 2006.05.04); tourismsouthindia.com/andhra-pradesh-travel/andhra… (accessed 2004.12.22).NOTE 8: Karempudi 16°25'32”N: 79°43'19”E (±250 m, Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985) is indicated again as »Karempudi« both on AMS sheet NE44-14 Vijayawada (U502 series, 1955 edition) and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 102 C4) but spelled »Karampudi« (sic!) on some Internet websites. Karempudi lies at travelling distances of about 30 km along the road approximately west of Macherla (± 250 m 16°28'22”N: 79°25'56”E, Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985), about 20 km south-east from Guruzala / Gurajala (±250 m 16°33'14”N: 79°38'07”E Everest 1830) and about 45 km approximately north-west from Narasaraopet (16°15'N: 80°04'E). NOTE 9: Nagarjuna Sagar (dam near ±250 m 16°34'19”N: 79°18'47”E Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 56-P edition 1985) falls on AMS sheet NE44-13 Wanparti (U502 series, 1963 edition) and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006) maps 102 A3 A4 and 103 B3 B4. NOTE 10: Little doubt remains that this »saga canal« (Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984) is the »Nagarjuna Sagar Right Bank or Jawaharlal Nehru Canal« indicated on the Survey of India sheet 56-P (edition 1985) and in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 102 B4 C4) but not yet shown on the AMS sheet NE44-14 Vijayawada (U502 series, 1955 edition). NOTE 11: In early August, just after the peak of the monsoon, M. Narayana Reddy (1984.08.11 Mss) noticed exclusively »in cave no. 1 … [that] the water is slowly flowing towards North East« but at least on one occassion »no flow of water was noticed« during the dry season on »27 December 2008, 16 January 2009, and 28 November 2010« (WILSON & RANGA REDDY 2011: 38). NOTE 12: Depending on the shape, the relatively »small gap« marking the »wide rocky roof« (Narayana Reddy, M 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984) possibly represents a ceiling channel (indicating phreatic flow conditions) or a joint guided rift (indicating a tectonical disturbance). NOTE 13: Celebrated in the lunar month of Asadha (June / July) is the Hindu festival Mrigasira or »Mrugam« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 956) and Murugam, which marks the start of the monsoon. Celebrated in the lunar month of Sravana (July / August) is the festival of »Naag Panchami« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 1045) dedicated to Ananta, the serpent upon whose coils Vishnu rested between universes. Snakes are believed to have power over the monsoon rainfall and keep evil away from homes. NOTE 14: Already on 11th February 1887, »… the sale of so-called ancient weapons to curiosity-collectors is, naturally, one of the specialities of Hyderabad. An immense quantity were brought to the Residency this morning for our inspection, and they made a glittering display in the marble portico. Among them were swords with watered blades, called johurdas, and worth several hundreds of pounds; besides innumerable scimitars of every shape, rapiers, blunderbusses, and exquisitely ornamented but treacherous-looking daggers and other stabbing instruments« (BRASSEY, A A 1889: 44-45). NOTE 15: indiatourism.com/andhra-pradesh-caves/guthikonda-c… (accessed 2006.05.04) introduced the fascinating adjective »ehalcolithic« which sounds as if it were rather a version of "alcoholic" (ethyl- or methy-alcoholic) than a corruption of "chalcolithic" -- a term that has been applied not only »to essentially stone-using communities to which copper and bronze are rare luxuries« but also, »… less aptly, to copper- and bronze using communities which retain a substantial though subordinate stone equipment. … The term has been widely and not always very discriminatley used by writers on Indian archaeology« and »may be accepted as an ugly utility-term; an alternative label, 'Protometallic', is scarcely more elegant or exact« (WHEELER 1959 revised 1968c, 1968d: 93).NOTE 16: Little doubt remains that these Internet-famed »furnists« must be members of a brasier worshipping sect. It is believed that furnists take their name from venerating sub-urban "furnaces" or, in the vernacluar, barbecues, with which they perform roasting rites in the open air. NOTE 17: The human need for fabulous underground tunnels is considerable. Among the many ways chosen to yield material or spiritual gains, legendary exit caves are imaginated, which represent often sacred caves (entrances, doors or gates) that give access to underground cave passages (galleries, tunnels) through which priviledged people are reputed to have exited / escaped into another, better world and gained liberation or spiritual fullfillment: »We've got to get in to get out« (Genesis: The lamb lies down on broadway). Etymology: In Latin, the noun "exitio, exitionis" (feminine) translates as »coming out« (ex utero) while "exitus" (masculine) is the word for the leaving, going out, walking out; an exit, a door, a gate; the end, ceasing, death, success, result.
Documents
Bibliography 21/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1886 (or so): Robert Bruce FOOTE (1916: 77-78) somehow "surveyed" (visited. look at, or so) an unspecified site named »Gurzala« (Guruzala, Gurajala) either without archaeologcal success (IAR 1968-9: 3) or proved it to be a neolithic site (GOSH, A 1989, 2: Gurzala). 1974 (circa): The lower parts of the cave are said to have drowned in waters »probably due to percolation (infiltration) of the 'saga' canal« (Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984). 1984.07.30 to 1984.08.02: Reddy, M. Narayana (retd. Special Police Officer, Nandyal, Kurnool district) visited »Bellam Cave 79.5° / 16.5° Guthi Konda, Palnadu, Guntur, A.P. India« (cave plan accompanying Narayana Reddy, M. 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984), visited and photographed, explored with the help of a »kerosin light« (Petromax) for illumination and surveyed (mapped) the accessible part of the cave: »I hope you have would have received my aerogramm of last week of July wherein I gave you measurements of two caves and where I had also mentioned to you about my proposed visit to an interesting cave. Of course, though late, I visited the cave, stayed there from 30th July to 2nd [deleted: October] August. … the measurements were taken by a compass and clinometer and a tape« (Reddy, M. Narayana 1984.08.11 Mss: Hyderabad 11-8-1984). 2008.04.14: Nani Ravi with a certain Mr. Ramdas and one Gopi travelled from Vijayanagar on »two bikes« (motor cycles) to visit the »Daida Cave Temple« (sic! qua: temple cave near the village of Daida) before proceeding to the »Guttikonda Bilam« where they discovered that »Pujaris here were very helpful. One of the Pujaris agreed to accompany us. They inquired about our lunch. As we told we didn't, they told they will prepare for us also« (nanione.blogspot.com/2009/10/guttikonda-bilam.html accessed 2011.05.20). 2008.12.27: Shabuddin Shaik, »an enthusiatic M. Sc. (Zoology) student at Acharya Nagarjuna University during 2008 - 2010« collected the first samples of the phreatoicid isopod (Crustacea, Hypsimetopidae) Andhracoides shabuddin (WILSON, George D. F. & RANGA REDDY, Yenumula 2011: 42). 2009.01.16: »Y. R. Reddy and party« collected additional specimens (type material) of Andhracoides shabuddin (WILSON, George D F & RANGA REDDY, Yenumula 2011: 42). 2010.11.28: Yenmula Ranga Reddy »and party« made a third excursion: »On all three occasions of sampling (27 December 2008, 16 January 2009, and 28 November 2010), Andhracoides shabuddin gen. nov., sp. nov. was abundant (approximately 40 and 100 specimens collected in two instances) and regularly encountered in the four or five chambers of the cave sampled« (WILSON, & RANGA REDDY 2011: 38).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | DAIDA TEMPLE CAVE | ||
| 21.8 | VADDAMU CAVERN | ||
| 26.9 | GURZALA (Foote 1916) | ||
| 61.2 | VENKATESHWARA CAVE, Amravati: Vaikuntapuram | ||
| 77.2 | MANGALAGIRI CAVES | ||
| 81.2 | Undavalli Cave Temples | ||
| 85.2 | BEZWADA CUTTINGS, Vijayawada | ||
| 86.7 | MOGALARAJAPURAM, Vijayawada (Caves at) | ||
| 86.7 | AKKANA & MADANNA, Vijayawada (Tunnel of) |