Have you ever wondered what it feels like to walk deep inside the earth? I had only read about caves in books or seen them in films -- mysterious, echoing, and a little scary. But one fine day, curiosity won. That’s how I found myself standing at the entrance of Belum Caves, near Belum village in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh, ready to explore one of the second longest underground caves in India.

Located in a secluded spot and often unnoticed, the place has been developed and maintained by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

We were a group of 12 -- all a mix of young and old accompanied by a local guide who promised to make sure none of us got lost in the maze below.

First a little about Belum Caves. Before stepping in, we learned that these caves were opened to the public in 2002. They are known for their stalactite and stalagmite formations, which hang and rise like nature’s sculptures. Lights and fans have been cleverly placed to make the journey comfortable without spoiling the natural charm.

The descent begins

Climbing down the steep metal stairs, we reached a circular opening -- the cave’s mouth, which is the entry. Looking up, we could see a patch of blue sky. “When it rains, water flows right through here,” said our guide. That was the last glimpse of sunlight before we entered a world of rock, silence, and mystery.

Within minutes, we were 30 feet underground. The air grew hot and heavy, and even though blowers helped a bit, it felt like walking through a natural furnace. Yet, with each step, our curiosity pushed us forward.

Into the heart of the cave

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The strategically placed lighting inside the caves

Belum Caves stretch over 3.5 km, though visitors are allowed up to 1.4 km. It takes nearly two hours to explore, but every minute feels new. The limestone walls, shaped over millions of years, glistened under dim yellow and red lights.

At one point, a fellow traveller warned us, “It’s slippery and dark ahead!” So, we rolled up our pants and tightened our grip on each other’s hands. Our guide kept reminding us where to step and what to watch out for. The deeper we went, the less we remembered the heat — we were too busy admiring the wonder around us.

What we discovered inside

Our guide showed us four key spots:

Dhyan Mandir (Meditation Hall) -- which is near to the entrance and monks are said to have meditated here. Many relics are found here.

Simhadwaram means lion’s gate -- a natural arch of stalactites shaped like three lion heads.

Saptasvarala Guha (Musical Chamber) -- here, striking the rock formations produces musical sounds!

Patalaganga -- the deepest accessible part of the cave, where a tiny stream flows endlessly into the earth before disappearing. The ground here was extremely slippery, and our shoes were soon caked with mud as we made our way through.

Each section had a story, a secret, which fired our imagination. Some passages were so narrow we had to crawl, shove and squeeze through, laughing and shouting at every twist and turn. One of my friends suddenly stopped and said, “I can’t go further, I’m claustrophobic!” But with a bit of encouragement she made it through.

The magic beneath

There were moments when we switched off our phone torches, and suddenly everything went completely dark. Only the soft drip of water filled the silence! Though we managed to click a few photos, most of us quickly tucked our phones safely into our pockets, afraid they would slip or fall in the dark. The pictures we did take will stay in our albums, but the moments we couldn’t capture will stay in our hearts forever.

Back to the light

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After almost two hours, we emerged from the cave -- sweaty, tired, and completely thrilled. The sunlight felt strange after all that time underground, but there was a quiet satisfaction in knowing we had explored something so ancient and beautiful.

Belum Caves aren’t just a tourist spot — they are an experience. Adventure is not always about mountains or seas; sometimes, it’s about walking into the earth itself, into the nature’s secret art gallery.

If you ever visit Andhra Pradesh, don’t miss this journey. Take a guide, wear comfortable shoes, and keep your curiosity alive -- because the real magic begins when you decide to step into the unknown.