27th December 2012
One of the tourist spots in Bastar district is Kutumsar
cave. Situated inside Kanger valley national park, it is about 40 km from
Jagdalpur. The last 10km drive is inside Kanger valley national park where permission
from forest department is required. That can be easily obtained at the entrance
of the park.
cave. Situated inside Kanger valley national park, it is about 40 km from
Jagdalpur. The last 10km drive is inside Kanger valley national park where permission
from forest department is required. That can be easily obtained at the entrance
of the park.
The cave is about 350 meters long, 35 meters wide and 55
meters deep. It is a young cave if the date of its discovery is considered!!
The world came to know about its existence only in 1993 even though it was
formed million of years ago.
meters deep. It is a young cave if the date of its discovery is considered!!
The world came to know about its existence only in 1993 even though it was
formed million of years ago.
We had reached early in the morning but a small queue was
already formed in front of the cave. Forest guard asks us to wait until people
who had entered before come back. So, only one way traffic is allowed in the cave!!
And the entrance did not look big. “Why the hype”, I tell to myself. I think I
was expecting a cave as big as 10 storey building!!
already formed in front of the cave. Forest guard asks us to wait until people
who had entered before come back. So, only one way traffic is allowed in the cave!!
And the entrance did not look big. “Why the hype”, I tell to myself. I think I
was expecting a cave as big as 10 storey building!!
But I was awestruck when people started to pop out from the
cave. 1,2,3..5….10…20 and soon I lost the count of number of people exited cave!!
The cave must be big enough!! The narrow passage at the entrance meant that
only limited number of people can go at a time to avoid any confusion or panic
inside the cave. Until the group comes out, others need to wait outside the
cave.
cave. 1,2,3..5….10…20 and soon I lost the count of number of people exited cave!!
The cave must be big enough!! The narrow passage at the entrance meant that
only limited number of people can go at a time to avoid any confusion or panic
inside the cave. Until the group comes out, others need to wait outside the
cave.
 |
| Entrance of the cave |
Once guard was convinced that the cave was empty, he let us
in. As expected, the entrance of the cave was very narrow. Only one person can
bend and enter into the cave. Iron railings are provided at places where we
need to get down into the cave. I thought my daughter would get scared but she goes
down in a jiffy!! My wife needed some help to get down. But once this initial
hurdle is crossed, rest of the journey is plain walk!! It is a big and a long
cave. Worth every penny we spent to reach this place.
in. As expected, the entrance of the cave was very narrow. Only one person can
bend and enter into the cave. Iron railings are provided at places where we
need to get down into the cave. I thought my daughter would get scared but she goes
down in a jiffy!! My wife needed some help to get down. But once this initial
hurdle is crossed, rest of the journey is plain walk!! It is a big and a long
cave. Worth every penny we spent to reach this place.
Tourists are usually accompanied by forest guards who show
the path using their torches. It looks like they got fed up with the huge
number of tourists during the season. Hence they put few lights running on a generator.
Their job now is just to sit and watch people roaming in the cave.
the path using their torches. It looks like they got fed up with the huge
number of tourists during the season. Hence they put few lights running on a generator.
Their job now is just to sit and watch people roaming in the cave.
According to information on web and tourist department broacher,
the cave is formed of stalactites and stalagmites in various formations. It has
resulted in various forms of rock cutting some resembling animals and Gods!!
the cave is formed of stalactites and stalagmites in various formations. It has
resulted in various forms of rock cutting some resembling animals and Gods!!
Since limited numbers of people are allowed inside the cave,
you get enough space and time to look into the cave. At the end of the cave is
a rock formation attaining the form of Shiva Linga. As expected it is being
worshipped and a priest is appointed to take care of it.
you get enough space and time to look into the cave. At the end of the cave is
a rock formation attaining the form of Shiva Linga. As expected it is being
worshipped and a priest is appointed to take care of it.
 |
| Shiva Linga formation at the end of the cave |
And it is time to move out of darkness. My daughter requires
some help to climb back. The queue outside has multiplied several times. It is
time to congratulate ourselves for starting early.
some help to climb back. The queue outside has multiplied several times. It is
time to congratulate ourselves for starting early.
In our itinerary was another cave called Kailash which is 30
km away. Maoists have created some trouble there making it out of bounds for
tourists.
km away. Maoists have created some trouble there making it out of bounds for
tourists.
 |
| Kid in good mood!! |
Note: There is no
public transport to the cave and it is best to hire a vehicle to the cave.
During peak season start early to avoid long queues in front of the cave.
public transport to the cave and it is best to hire a vehicle to the cave.
During peak season start early to avoid long queues in front of the cave.
R Niranjan Das
Awesome place. Never heard of it. You have documented it well.
http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Jatdevta Sandeep
इसे देखकर अरकू के पास वाली बोरा गुफ़ा की याद आ जाती है।
Anuradha Shankar
what a beautiful cave!!!! making myself a note to go there soon before it gets converted into a temple covered with sindoor
Aravind GJ
Niranjan, Jatdevta,
Thanks.
Anuradha,
Your are right!! And Bastar district is a nice place to visit.
Srikanth Manjunath
You are a gifted traveler. Nice post with as minute details as possible. Photographs always takes the breath away. Super
Vineeta Yashswi
Wow awesome…
Aravind GJ
Srikanth, Vineeta,
Thanks for your comments!!
Poorna and Brinda
Hi Aravind,
Excellent pictures of Kutumsar.
We travelled in Chattisgarh in 2010. It is being documented in our blog. BTW, with your permission, i have used the pictures of the caves as we could not click them as battery got drained out. I have also provided link to your blog in this post. Here is the link to our blog http://journeys2remember.blogspot.in/2013/06/chattisgarh-chronicles-III.html
Thanks for sharing.
Aravind GJ
Poorna and Brinda,
Thanks for the comment. No problem in using my photos in your blog. BTW, you have a nice blog!!
Catch How
Nice Cave