RAMATIRTHAM CAVE TEMPLES
18.166700,83.433300
Description
Among the »cave temples« (man-made, rock-cut chambers used for religious purposes) of Andhra Pradesh, DUTT (1981: 1) enumerates »Makkuva, Ramatirtham and Sankharam in Visakhapatnam districts in the Archaean (ancient) crystalline rocks« (note 1). SITUATION: DUTT (1981 plate 1: Physiographical map of Andhra Pradesh) indicates »Ramatirtham« about 10 km (or so) east of the town of Vizianagaram (note 2) and thus in Vizianagaram district and, perhaps (but this is mere guesswork) about 10 km north-east of Vizianagaram in the hill rising in the vicinity of »Nellimaria« or »Nellimarla« (note 3).
NOTE 1: Little doubt remains that it is not exactly the whole lot of »Visakhapatnam districts« (DUTT 1981: 1), of which there is only one, are found in »Archaean (ancient) crystalline rocks« but rather the »cave temples« themselves. NOTE 2: Vizianagaram N18°07': E083°25' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 96 D4). NOTE 3: Nellimarla N18°10': E083°26' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) is indicated as »Nellimaria« in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 96 D4).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25.5 | DEVUDU KONDA (Cave on the) | ||
| 58.3 | MAKKUVA CAVES | ||
| 114.7 | NIAMRAJA's CAVE | ||
| 148.8 | DEVAGIRI, Kalyasinghpur (Cave on the) | ||
| 168.8 | MOHURI KALUA CAVE | ||
| 257.3 | SHAILODBHAVA (Cave of) | ||
| 263.6 | PANDURANGA SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGE | ||
| 289.2 | CHANDRAPIDA (Cave of) | ||
| 319.4 | PANDAVA CAVE, Khordha |