GOPAMA GAVI
15.183300,77.800000
Description
»A very short cave with three entrances« (Perrin 2009.08.29 Mss). ETYMOLOGY: "Gopama" probably means something »cowboy, cowherd« (or so). SITUATION: On the hill Gopallamalla Konda (note 1) south-west of the village of »Guddupaddu« or Gudipadu (note 2), which lies about one kilometre north of Payasamrangareddipalle (note 3), which itself about 15 km along the road from Rayala Chervu / Rayala Cheruvu (N15°04': E77°49'), west of Yadiki (N15°03': E77°53'). Obvious limestone cliffs exposed high up on Gopallamalla Konda are visible south-west from the Pasumanpalli bus-stand. CULTURAL HISTORY - fabulous tunnel: Jerome Perrin (2009.08.29 Mss) tells me that Gpama Gavi »is said that before a longer passage existed but it is now blocked« (note 4). CAVE LIFE: Jerome Perrin (2009.08.29 Mss) noticed (in August 2009) the presence of »many bats inside« (Chiroptera).
NOTE 1: The Gopallamalla Konda is indicated as the height .576 near N15°10'28”: E77°46'10”: 576 m asl (Everest 1830) on the Survey of India sheet 57-E/16 (edition 1977) at a spot about 9 km along the road approximately south-east from Pyapali (N15°14': E77°44'). NOTE 2: Gudipadu N15°10'50”: E77°46'40” (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 57-E/16 edition 1977). NOTE 3: Payasamrangareddipalle / Pasumanpalle village (also: Narayanapuram) N15°09'40”: E77°46'45” (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 57-E/16 edition 1977). NOTE 4: Without any doubt the statement »it is now blocked« again and again is the standard "Indian" (?) phrase used to explain one (or several) obviously absent but mythologically required fabulous tunnel(s) leading underground to far away famous places. Little doubt remains that the lacking »longer passage« (Perrin 2009.08.29 Mss) of Gopama Gavi hints to the existence of a legend that features a fabulous tunnel. In connection with –>Panchalingalaswami Guha (Pasumanpalli), Jerome Perrin (2009.08.29 Mss) tells me that »… people … said the German caver went very far into the cave and could even get out through Gopama Gawi !! Some legends develop quite quickly …« The fabulous tunnel connecting Gopama Gavi (N15°11': E077°48' Everest 1830) with –>Panchalingalaswami Guha (N15°09'35”: E077°47'10” Everest 1830) covers a linear distance of about 3 km in a direct line approximately SSW.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1979/80 or 1981/82: Resident people told me about a Gopama Gavi in the hill Gopallamalla Konda south-west of the village of »Guddupaddu« (Gudipadu) where a small cave entrance gives access to a dry, horizontal cave passage aligned approximately north-west to south-east. 2009.08: Jerome Perrin (2009.08.29 Mss): »I'm just back from a few days around Belum cave with my student. We visited Chandrapalle cave (near Dhone) … We also visited Gopama Gawi …«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | PANCHALINGALASWAMI GUHA, Pasumanpalli | ||
| 3.3 | LANGU GAVI | ||
| 3.8 | CHANDRAPALLE CAVE | ||
| 4.2 | KURUVA BALI GAVI | ||
| 12.3 | Kona Rameshvaram Daddi Guha | ||
| 13.2 | MUNAGAMANU GAVI | ||
| 14.8 | JUVVIMANI GAVI | ||
| 16.7 | KAMBHAGIRISWAMI HOLE | ||
| 19.4 | GOOTY CAVERN (Newbold 1845) |