These
caves were officially discovered by famous British geologist
William King some time around 1807, where as local legend,
according to which once a local cowherd saw is grazing cow
falling in a deep whole but when he looked into the whole he
found his cow alive and discovered these caves as there
was "Shiv Lingam" and images of God Shiv and Goddess Parvati so
this act of saving life of cows is considered as the merciful
action of Lord Shiva.
These caves are the additional gift of nature to visitors of
Araku Valley. 90 odd kms train journey through thickly vegetate
eastern ghats from Vishakhapatnam which takes about 6 hours for
reaching here is a heavenly experience, as this route is all the
way enriched with breath taking beautiful landscapes, thrilling
turnings on peaks and valleys with about 40 stunning tunnels.
There is entrance fees for visitors of these caves stretched to
area of about 2 sq. km. More than sixty, Sodium vapour, halogen
and mercury lamps used to provide light inside are making the
interior, of these lime stone caves surrounded by mica,
colourful and amazingly spectacular.
