Duration

2 days (22 hours drive full circuit)

Places covered

Gandikota fort and the surrounding monuments, Bellum Caves, Horsely hills, and Talakona Falls in the return journey

Distance covered

~950 km

Best time to visit

September - February

Start Location

Chennai

End Location

Chennai

Link to this sectionGandikota

Gandikota is a village and historic fort on the right bank of the Penna River. It is located 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The fort was the centre of power for various dynasties, such as the Kalyani Chalukyas, Delhi Sultanate, Pemmasani Nayakas, and the Golconda Sultanate. This post is a collection of photos gathered from Gandikota - Bellum Caves - Horsley hills road trip from Chennai.

Link to this sectionBelum Caves

Belum Caves is the largest and longest cave system open to the public in the Indian subcontinent. It is well known for its stalactite and stalagmite formations. According to Wiki, they have long passages, galleries, spacious caverns with fresh water and siphons. This cave system was formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground water. It reaches its deepest point at Pataalaganga at about 151ft. The total length is 3229m, which makes them the second largest caves in the Indian Subcontinent after the Krem Liat Prah caves in Meghalaya.

Link to this sectionHorsley Hills & Talakona

We decided to head closer to Chennai for the overnight stay. And the lack of sleep we had over the past few nights driving, we preferred Horsley hills over Yelagiri. Despite nothing much to do in here, their cool breezy climate in the mornings and evenings make up for a good hill station. Thus, we decided to visit Talakona falls the following day en route to Chennai.

Note

If you are a person that throws away chewing gum papers, plastic and waste on the floor as you go, please do not visit this place and spoil the nature here.