GURRUM PATINATADE
15.416700,78.150000
Description
This unidentified and elusive »very big cave … that has many ramifications and exits and a subterranean stream« (CAMMIADE, L A 1927: 11) is fascinating and, perhaps, lost or imaginated (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: Unknown (note 2). SITUATION: CAMMIADE, L A (1927: 11), quoted by CRAVEN (1969: 23), located the »very big cave« called »Gurrum-patinatade« at an unspecified distance of »two miles« (either 3.2 km on horse-back or in a direct line) »south of Betamcherla« (note 3). This direction can be interpreted as referring to »the small ghat which leads from Gorlagootla [Gollagutta]« (note 4) »to Betumcherru [Betamcherla]« (FOOTE, R B 1884a: 34).
NOTE 1: In spite of three excursions to the area during the cool seasons of 1981/82, 1983/84 and 1996/97, I was not able to identify »Gurrum-padinatade« which possibly lies in an area controlled by unsocial Maoist (Naxalite) underground activists. In January 2010, Jerome Perrin (2010.02.02 Mss) spent one week in the region and also found also »no indication on the possible location of … Gurrum Patinatadde.« NOTE 2: "gurrumanu" (Telugu) means to snore, growl, snarl and "tade" is the Telugu word for hindrance, obstruction, prevention; to hinder, to stop. NOTE 3: The railway station at the village of Betamcherla is indicated near N15°26'50”: E078°08'55”: 362 m asl (Everest 1830) on Survey of India sheet 57-I/03 (edition 1983). NOTE 4: »Gorlagootla« (FOOTE, R B 1884a: 33, 34) or »Gorlogunta« (FOOTE, R B 1885: 235) and »Goorlagootla« (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 23) is the village indicated as »Gollagutta« near N15°23'45”: E78°11'45”: 280 m asl (Everest 1830) on the Survey of India sheet 57-I/03 (edition 1983) on the road from Betamcherla (N25°27': E78°09' Everest 1830) south-east and south to Banaganapalle (N15°18'45”: E78°13'30”: 225 m asl, Everest 1830).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1927: CAMMIADE, L A (1927: 11), since the beginning of 1925 posted as Collector of Kurnool (CAMMIADE 1927: 7), suggested »the exploration of Gurrum-patinatade.« 1969: Dr. Stephen A. CRAVEN (1969: 23) summarised »observations of others« including Cammiade's suggestion to explore »Gurrum-patinatade.« 1981.12 - 1982.02: H. D. Gebauer, Andre Abele and Werner Busch mapped and explored caves in the vicinities of Banaganapalle and Betamcherla but nobody pointed out a cave resembling Gurrum Patinatade. 1983.12. - 1984.03: H. D. Gebauer and Andre Abele tried to identify Gurrum Patinatade but could not trace it. 1996.12: Guided by M. Narayana Reddy (retd. Special Police officer) it was not possibly to identify this cave. 2010.01.03: Jerome Perrin (2010.02.02 Mss) found »no indication on the possible location of … Gurrum Patinatadde.«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | GOKARABADDHA GAVI | ||
| 0.5 | NEMMICHELI GAVI | ||
| 0.5 | NEMMICHELI GAVI (Perrin 2010) | ||
| 0.5 | MUCHCHATLA CHINTAMANU GAVI | ||
| 0.8 | BOYA DARI | ||
| 0.8 | ERRABADDE GAVI , 1st | ||
| 0.8 | ERRABADDE GAVI, 2nd | ||
| 0.8 | ERRABADDE GAVI, 3rd | ||
| 1.8 | JANGALU GAVI |