GURZALA (Foote 1916)
16.566700,79.650000
Description
An archaeological or palaeontological site of unspecified nature -- perhaps a cave but possibly an open-air site -- called »Gurzala« (FOOTE 1916: 77-78), »Guruzala« (note 1) and »Gurajala« (note 2), was either surveyed in the 1890ies by Robert Bruce Foote without success (IAR 1968-9: 3) or is a neolithic site (GOSH, A 1989, 2: Gurzala). GEOLOGY: Dr. Henry Westley VOYSEY (1850a: 197-198) travelled in December 1818 across a slaty limestone in the area 10 km to 15 km east of Gurzala: »Monday, 7th December 1818 … The quartz rock continued for some miles from Nacricull [Nekarikallu N16°23': E079°59'], and we saw a slaty limestone crossing our path, which continued to appear from time to time until we were past Peddurgall [Pidurugallu N16°29': E079°54']. I afterwards saw large blocks of granite containing epidote; I could not however trace any connection between the two rocks. The limestone appeared at times in vertical strata and at others nearly horizontal; it is not at all crystalline, and contains a considerable quantity of argil. Tuesday, 8th December 1818.-- At Dachapilly [Dachepalle N16°36': E079°44'], on our road [north-west] to the Kistna [Krishna river], the horizontal limestone, or at least nearly so, made its appearance in great abundance; all the houses and walls of the gardens were built of it. In a pagoda I saw large blocks at least five feet by three [1.5 by 0.9 m]. At this place it was to be seen of all colours from a very white semi-crystalline to a black colour. On our road after quitting Dachapilly, it alternated with the argillaceous calc tuff; about four miles [6.4 km] from Dachapilly it was seen in great quantity of a dark black colour (compact Lucullite of Jameson), and on our approach to Pondegul [Pondugala N16°14': E079°39'] it was covered by large and small rounded masses of quartz rock in considerable quantity. When on the bank of the Kistna, it was horizontal and of all colours, zoned, and with a substance intervening between the strata sometimes white and fibruous like tremolite, at others like red and black ironstone; sometimes containing small nodules of ironstone, and in one instance, from a specimen I found in the bed of the river, green quartz. Two furlongs [402 m] above, and one below our present station, … the strata on the bank for at least fifty feet [15.24 m], have sunk in a very abrupt manner, I should suppose, from the gradual undermining of the river which is rapid and very full in the rainy season : it brings with it vast quantities of mud, which it deposits at the sides on the limestone, and thus marks its height. The river is about the breadth of the Thames at Battersea, and becomes suddenly very deep. The extent of this limestone formation, which is the compact limestone of Jameson, and although a secondary formation would form a very handsome polished marble, is very considerable; I first saw it at Nacricull [Nekarikallu N16°23': E079°59'], distant about thirty miles [48.27 km]. It appears unfavourable to vegetation as in the jungle we saw nothing but two species of Euphorbia, and some hardy leguminous plants; I have as yet searched in vain for petrifactions.« On »Wednesday, 9th December 1818« Dr. Henry Westley VOYSEY (1850a: 199) crossed over »in round boats of wicker covered externally with leather« to the right (north) bank of Krishna river (Nalgonda district), visited a »large Caravanserai or Musjeed« (perhaps at Wazirabad N16°42': E079°40') and found more bare karst (naked karst) as the country »all round it were immense masses of the limestone completely denuded of all earthy covering.«
NOTE 1: The archaeological site Gurzala (FOOTE 1916: 77-78; GOSH, A 1989, 2) is probably named after the small town (on the South Central Railway) of Gurajala N16°33'14”: E079°38'07” (Everest 1830) Survey of India sheet 56-P (edition 1985); Nani Ravi (2008.04.14) online: nanione.blogspot.com/2009/10/guttikonda-bilam.html (accessed 2011.05.20) Guruzala GOSH, A K (1969: 3); AMS sheet NE44-14 Vijayawada (U502 series, 1955 edition); India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 102 B4) Gurzala FOOTE, R B (1916: 77-78); GOSH, A (1989, 2: Gurzala) in the Krishna (Kistna) River valley and on the Southern Railway and 34 km (21 miles) along the road east of Macherla (N16°29': E079°26') or 13 km (8 miles) along the road approximately west-south-west of Dachepalle (N16°36': E079°44'), which itself lies 82 km (51 miles) along the road north-west of Guntur (N16°18': E080°27'). NOTE 2: »… Gopi, Ramdas and I on two bikes … passed Guntur and Perecharla on Guntur - Hyderabad State Highway … At last we reached Piduguralla … Diverted on to Piduguralla - Karampudi road to reach Gurajala. … From Gurajala it was a single BT road. That road was still going somewhere after crossing Daida village. We took a diversion on to a gravel road toward River Krishna to reach the Temple« (Nani Ravi 2008.04.14 online: nanione.blogspot.com/2009/10/guttikonda-bilam.html accessed 2011.05.20).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.9 | BELLAM GAVI, Guthikonda | ||
| 26.9 | DAIDA TEMPLE CAVE | ||
| 38.0 | VADDAMU CAVERN | ||
| 76.4 | VENKATESHWARA CAVE, Amravati: Vaikuntapuram | ||
| 97.1 | MANGALAGIRI CAVES | ||
| 99.9 | Undavalli Cave Temples | ||
| 103.2 | BEZWADA CUTTINGS, Vijayawada | ||
| 105.1 | MOGALARAJAPURAM, Vijayawada (Caves at) | ||
| 105.1 | AKKANA & MADANNA, Vijayawada (Tunnel of) |