Kona Rameshvaram Daddi Guha
15.146700,77.908300
Description
NOTE 1: KURIEN (1980: 184) reports an occurrence of 110,000 to 120,000 cubic metres (280,000 to 300,000 tons) of pure secondary calcite (calcareous tufa, American English: travertine) from the vicinity of Kona Rameshvaram Swami temple (N15°09': E77°54' unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830), 5.6 km north of Konda Uppalapadu N15°06': E77°34' (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830).
A 25 m wide and up to 9 m high cave entrance gives access to a solitary, dimly lit chamber which is 15 m wide, 3.5 to 5.5 m high, slightly more than 35 m long, and inclined with an angle of 35°. The cave represents a classical case of a primary cave which has not not formed by dissolutional mass wasting but as a void that was spared out when the cave embracing travertine (calcareous tufa) was precipitated (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The Telugu "Kona Rameshvaram Daddi Guha" translates as »Gorge [of] Rama [the god's] Cliff Cave« (kona = gorge; daddi / dadde = cliff; guha = cave). SITUATION: A short distance north-east from Ramalingeswaraswami, the temple at the village of Kona Rameshvaram (Ramesvaram, Rameshwaram, Rameswaram), but vertically about about 20 m higher up in a deep valley cut into limestone and at a travelling distance of about 15 km along the road from Yadiki town. APPROACH: The site is reached by a motorable road via Kona Uppalapadu (Uppalapadde) village. At the north-eastern cliff (facing south-west) of the valley, occur notable 120,000 cubic metres of secondary calcite, or tufa (KURIEN 1980: 184), which is quarried for the production of chunam —a pure, white slaked lime used for colouring and digestive purposes. The entire cliff is riddled with countless holes, sub-caves and rock shelters.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: Guided by Shri Chelapathi Reddy (Belum village), it were H. D. Gebauer and Sibylle Wolfgram who visited, mapped and explored.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | MUNAGAMANU GAVI | ||
| 2.6 | JUVVIMANI GAVI | ||
| 7.8 | KAMBHAGIRISWAMI HOLE | ||
| 9.7 | KURUVA BALI GAVI | ||
| 10.1 | LANGU GAVI | ||
| 12.2 | CHANDRAPALLE CAVE | ||
| 12.3 | GOPAMA GAVI | ||
| 13.2 | PANCHALINGALASWAMI GUHA, Pasumanpalli | ||
| 17.4 | UPPALAPADDE TALUS CAVE |