NELA BILAM, Talaricherevu
14.953900,78.069700
Description
»A deep well-like chasm into which a long flight of steps descends to the sacred spring of Nela Billam« is one of the cave sites which Robert Bruce Foote found to be »full of water in the lower recesses« (FOOTE 1885: 235). ETYMOLOGY: If I am not mistaken, the word "tala" or "tale" tends to mean not only something along the lines of a head and a peak or summit but also a spring (being the head of a river), while "cheruvu" is the Telugu word for a pond, pool, lake or »tank« (water reservoir). SITUATION: At a travelling distance of »about 6 miles« (FOOTE 1885: 235) or some 10 km on horseback approximately »north-east of Tarpatri« or Tadpatri (note 1). IDENTITY: Little doubt remains (note 2) that »Nela Billam« (FOOTE 1885) is the karst spring rising at the village indicated as »Talaricheruvu« (note 3) at a spot which lies 7.4 km in a direct line north-est of Tadpatri. The other suspect, the Nela Bilam (Bandarlapalle) near N15°00'32”: E078°03'20”: 343 m asl (Everest 1830, Surveyof India sheet 57-i/04 edition 1983), lies 12 km in a direct line --and hence some 15 km or 20 km on horseback-- approximately NNE from Tadpatri. CAVE POTENTIAL: A diving spot? Compare –>Nayala Bilamu.
NOTE 1: »Tarpatri« (FOOTE 1885: 235) is indicated as »Tadpatri« near (±1 km) N14°54'30”: E078°01'00”: 229 m asl (Everest 1830) on Survey of India sheet 57-J/01 (edition 1978). NOTE 2: Talaricheruvu N14°57'14”: E078°04'11”: 360 m asl (Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 57-J/01 edition 1978).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1884.12.24-31: Robert Bruce Foote, then Superintendant of the Geological Survey of India, and his son Henry Bruce Foote, an army Lieutenant, »devoted the Christmas week« (1884) to visit, among other cave sites, »the sacred spring of Nela Billam … about six miles north-east of Tarpatri« (FOOTE 1885: 235).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | BANDARLAPALLE CAVE | ||
| 4.7 | NAYALA BILAMU | ||
| 6.3 | NELA BILAM, Bandarlapalle | ||
| 7.8 | BUGGA CAVES | ||
| 17.1 | BELUM GUHALU | ||
| 17.2 | CHIRUTIPULLI - VEEPAMANI GUHALU | ||
| 17.4 | Belum Caves | ||
| 18.6 | NELA BILAM, Belum village | ||
| 19.7 | DHODIYAM POTHOLE |