Some journeys are about destinations. Others are about the people you travel with—and the surprises the road quietly offers.
Earth never stops amazing me. Just when you think you have seen enough of its surprises and beauty, it quietly presents another one—without drama, without noise, but with depth.
Our destination this time was the Billa Swargam Caves. The idea itself was not entirely new; exactly a year ago, the three of us—close friends who have shared many such journeys. We have taken several short trips together, sometimes on motorbikes, sometimes by car. Increasingly, I feel these drives matter less for the places we visit and more for the unhurried time spent in each other’s company.
Due to some logistical juggling, Sastry and I decided to drive to Kurnool the previous evening and stay overnight, while Ravi would join us directly the next morning. Sastry picked me up at Nagole, to where I enjoyed a calm metro ride. He navigated the city traffic and some of the highway. After that, we switched roles—I drove the remaining stretch of about 180 km. Along the way, we paused for back-to-back coffees: one at Minerva Coffee Shop and another at Kumbakonam Degree Coffee. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the latter more, despite it costing only half as much. It reminded me, once again, that value often hides where price tags don’t shout.
The hotel turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant. For a brief moment, I wondered whether, as part of my minimalist leanings, Komala and I could simply rent a hotel room in Hyderabad on a long-term basis and live with zero maintenance worries—fully serviced, quietly efficient. Just a passing thought, but a tempting one.
The next morning, Ravi joined us, and our first stop was the Billa Swargam caves that was our original destination. These were relatively unexplored. Curious and slightly adventurous, Ravi and I wandered a little beyond the usual path and almost failed to notice a deep pit just a couple of feet away—too dark to see clearly. The caves had large open structures and felt massive in scale. As I crawled back out, I noticed fine dust clinging to my clothes, possibly insect droppings. Here are some pictures of this cave and our drive
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dr7LVsy7fMXKLJTS6
Since it was still early in the day, we decided to move on to another destination, Belum Caves.
Belum Caves were a different experience altogether. Reaching them itself took about an hour and a half. What awaited us below was extraordinary—not just caves, but an extensive network of limestone tunnels, shaped patiently over centuries by water.
We descended a modest flight of steps—certainly not very deep by human standards, perhaps 4 storeys at most—but enough to leave the world above behind. Inside, the caves extend much further, branching into long passages and multiple levels that go well beyond what is immediately apparent from the entrance.
The limestone formations were fascinating. At several places, water still drips steadily from the ceiling, and over time, these droplets have sculpted curious shapes—some delicate, some dramatic—quietly continuing the work that began thousands of years ago. The cave system stretches over 3 kilometres, though only 1.5 kms has been explored and opened to visitors.
Fresh air is circulated through vents from above, though only a few seem to be functioning. It wasn’t frightening or claustrophobic, but by the time we emerged, I was in sweat—more from humidity and limited airflow than from exertion. The caves are partially lit by the tourism department, revealing water pools and striking rock formations at several points. There are several levels of caves with the deepest one, Paatalganga being some 150 ft below ground. Several sections were slippery due to light water on clay floor. Several sections were photographic places to snap walls and ceilings, or selfies.
What struck me most was the contrast: life above ground carries on normally—cultivation, routine, familiarity—while just a few metres below lies this vast limestone world, unseen and largely forgotten. Here are some pictures of the Belum Caves https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dr7LVsy7fMXKLJTS6
The return drive was smooth, interrupted only by Sastry and Ravi repeatedly reminding me to watch for traffic, oncoming vehicles, and stray animals. My three decades of driving experience seemed like a driver-in-learning perhaps with us being a little overcautious in this particular one. In fact our overcautiousness led to some out of normal reflexes based driving for me. But yes, all of us needed to remind ourselves, safety first.
And yes, I had good fun. Quiet fun. The kind that stays with you long after the journey ends. And I am looking forward to more already.
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