Borra caves, which are about a million years old, are located in Vishakapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh. These caves are about 90 km away from Vishakapatnam. Borra caves are natural and this makes them even more mysterious and beautiful. A British geologist, William King, discovered these caves in the year 1807.

Traveling to Borra Caves:
A train journey from Vishakapatnam to Borra caves will take about 5 to 6 hours. By car, you would have to travel through the ghat road, for about 3 hours.

Borra caves are present in Anantagiri hills of the Eastern Ghats. These caves are at a height of 800 to 1300 meters above the sea level. Traveling to Borra caves is a treat in itself. If you travel by train, you would be crossing about 30 tunnels surrounded by thick vegetation of Eastern Ghats.

How were Borra Caves Formed?
The way these caves were formed is interesting. There is a river named Gosthani which originates in the Eastern Ghats. These caves were formed by the pressure exerted by the river Gosthani. This river was once flowing over the limestone area. Over the time, the lime stones dissolved to form the caves. The river now Gosthani flows through the caves towards the Orissa state.

Beautiful Formations Inside the Borra Caves:

The dissolved limestone trickled drop by drop to form stalactite and stalagmite formation, for which the Borra caves are famous for. Stalactites are calcium carbonate deposits that hang from the top of the cave. Stalagmites are deposits that form at the bottom of the cave and grow upward. These deposits are about a million years old and they give a beautiful appearance to the caves.

These deposits have formed into interesting structures. Shapes such as mushrooms, crocodile, temple, church etc. have captured the imaginations of tourists, while some have gained religious significance. The caves are beautifully illuminated by mercury, sodium vapor and halogen lamps.

You can walk around the Borra caves to have a view of the mountainous area rich with flora and fauna. So, even if you are a geologist or a tourist, Borra caves are sure to enchant you. Also, if you visit Borra caves, do not forget to go to Araku valley, a famous hill station about 15 Km from the Borra caves.