Summary
=> Gandikota is famous for Grand Canyon just at a distance of 290 km from Bangalore.
=> Belum Caves is the second largest cave in Indian subcontinent and the longest caves in plains of Indian Subcontinent open for public.
=> Total Drive: 650 km in 2 days
- Bangalore to Gandikota - 290 km
- Gandikota to Belum Caves - 60 km
- Belum Caves to Bangalore - 300 km
Day:1
=> Started from Bangalore at 6 am
=> Had a breakfast at Nandi Upachar on Hyderabad highway on NH44 at 8 am
=> Reached to Gandikota at 1 pm
=> Checked in to Haritha Resort, freshen up and had lunch. Haritha resort is the only option to stay in Gandikota so make sure to book in advance from http://aptdc.gov.in/. Tent stay is also available near grand canyon. Tents are available on rent.
=> Go to Fort, you can drive till Mosque inside Fort and park your car there
=> Places to visit inside Fort: Charminar, Jail, Madhavaraya Swamy Temple, Mosque, Granary, Raghunatha Swamy Temple
=> Main attraction is view to Grand Canyon. You can either skip above places or visit them fast. My suggestion is to spend nice evening at the view point. You need to trek through stones but it is easy trekking. Be careful if you are going to cliffs. Believe me - it will be one of the very nice and unique experience.
=> Go back to resort, have dinner, spend some time below the open sky, have camp fire etc.
Day:2
=> Don't miss to enjoy beautiful sunrise at Grand Canyon outside fort. Wake up at around 5 or 6 depending upon season you visit. There is one right turn before entering to Fort. Take this road to view of grand canyon and dam lake. View is really awesome. Enjoy spectacular and glorious sunrise, have hot tea from local vendors and trek to small hillock. Enjoy very refreshing morning.
=> Return back to Resort at 8 am, freshen up, have breakfast, check out by 10 am
=> Drive to Belum Caves - 60 km, reach to Belum Caves by 12 noon
=> Time required to visit full cave is 2-3 hours.
=> Government have arranged big bulbs at many places in the cave so no need to carry torch or head lamp. Big fans are also kept at main caves to pump in fresh air and to avoid suffocation.
=> It is a great place for all ages people.
=> Cautions: Do mind your head. And It is slippery at some places.
=> Do not miss the main attraction - the lime stones called Stalactite and Stalagmite. Patal ganga is also nice place to visit deep inside cave.
=> Had a lunch there after visiting the cave and started a return journey at 3 pm.
=> Reached back home at 8.30 pm with great memories.
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