Gandikota & Belum Caves :)

Reason to Smile:  They say Travel makes you one bit wiser. Every time you travel, take up a trip outside alone or with a bunch of people, it just brings in new experiences, learning and of course wonderful memories :)

Travel Trikon's trip to Gandikota and Belum Caves has not left any stone un-turned to just do that and give us all a whole new world of unexplored places, extreme madness, crazy people and superb pictures to cherish unlimited memories :)

Manoj Kalwar, Our Group Leader, (who is proud to announce that he is one or else no one gives him an ear :P) has made a perfect amalgamation of  a historical place clubbed with a sunny weather fine enough to click pictures of an extremely neat and photogenic venue :) He has always managed to crack a superb deal with his exceptional people skills to make a fine mixture of Place, People and a Passion to travel an unforgettable experience :) The endless Mafia Games, the totally ruined Manoj's loud voice in the Antakshari making it sound a dead band wagon, the superficial Dumb charades with regional movies to perform, and the so called edible Veg and Non Veg Food :P all under one umbrella and a plethora of crazy comments only got us all ROFL :D :P :)  Also not to forget, a grand celebration of Mumpy's birthday (Thanks to 2 cakes :P) while the train makes some musical noise towards the onward journey to Gandikota ! 

About one hour drive (26 kms) from Muddanuru Railway Station lies Gandikota, a place not so explored in the Andhra region. It is a fort that acquired its name due to the 'gorge' (in Telugu it is called 'gandi'), formed between the Erramala range of hills, also known as Gandikota hills and the river Pennar that flows at its foot, reducing its width to a mere 300 ft. Situated amidst beautiful landscape and wild forests, it is endowed with vast natural resources and is also known as the Grand Canyon of India. Efforts are being put to give Gandikota a world heritage status. Within the fort are two ancient temples, dedicated to Madhava and Ranganatha, both are in ruins and the fort area is full of the debris of ages and many ancient structures in varying stages of decay. The Jamia Masjid has two adjacent minarets. There is a good downhill trek through the canyon that leads to the riverbed. There is a dam upstream (Gandikota Dam) and a dam downstream (Mylavaram Dam).

Belum Caves is the largest tourist cave in India and the longest caves in plains of Indian Subcontinent, known for its stalactite and stalagmite formations. Belum Caves have long passages, spacious chambers, fresh water galleries and siphons. It is a natural underground cave formed by the constant flow of underground water. The caves reach its deepest point (150 feet from entrance level) at the point known as Pataalaganga. The caves are formed in Limestone. There is a giant Buddha Statue near a hillock near the Belum Caves. The area inside the cave known as "Meditation hall" was used by Buddhist Monks. Several other sections in the caves include, Mandapam, The Banyan Tree Hall, Patalganga, Thousand Hoods, Musical Chamber, etc.

The stone temple very close Belum caves is also worth a visit. The entire structure right from the entrance gate to the temple inside with its surrounding walls and large backyard room is fully built with stone walls neatly carved with historical sculptures of the iron age.   

Back to a new job, it all makes it worthwhile to have begun a new phase of life with a backlog of so much to remember, cherish, feel, write about it and enjoy ! 

Happy Selfies, Happy Faces, Happy Birthdays and what not has the trip endured ! Wow :)

Last but not the least, I feel "Jeelous" of the "Jeenune" comments that Manoj has accumulated through this wonderful trip ! ;) 

Keep reading, Keep Travelling, and Keep Smiling :)