Indian Navy Day - 2018- Vizag

Every year December 4th is celebrated as 'Navy day' by Indian marines, a branch of Indian Army.The day is celebrated in commemoration of courageous attack by Indian Navy on the Karachi harbour of Pakistan during Indo-Pak war in 1971.  The attack on 4th December 1971, was disastrous to Pakistani armies and finally India won that war.

The Navy keeps waters safe that bounds our nation on three sides, east, south and west.  They also come into action when there are floods and people get struck in remote places during floods.
Chatrapathi Shivaji is considered father of 'Indian Navy'.

All these chairs filled in no time

Naval band playing at the beginning of the display

Operational demonstrations using helicopters.  

Operational demonstrations - picking up person caught in flood waters

Attacking enemy oil wells

Naval band playing at the conclusion of the ceremony

Event managers (Commanders) and commentators

Borra Caves

Borra caves are the deepest caves in India.  On the way to Araku from Vizag a diversion leads to these caves.  There is also a waterfall on this way which I could not visit as it was late in the evening and the charges demanded were very high. 

River Gosthani - On the banks of river limestone appearing as marble is seen.
just opposite to this site is the cave.
The Borra caves are more than 150 million years old and are supposed to be formed by the water flowing through it.  River Gosthani arises from the eastern hills flows through these caves.  We can see the water dripping from the walls and roof of these caves.  The dripping water with its mineral contents when forms spikes and hanging structures it is called stalacites and that falls to the ground and sediments is the called stalagamites.  At some places we see water flowing with yellowish or reddish yellow sediment because of the minerals and their chemical reactions resulting in the color.

'Borra as seen from inside the caves
The caves are named as ‘Borra’, as borra means a hole.  We can see an opening or borra in the roof of the cave.  This is difficult to locate on the hills above.  It is believed that once a cow grazing on the hills had slipped into the caves through this ‘borra’ and could come out with the help of gods residing within the cave.

Natural Shivalinga in the cave.  There is another Shivalinga near the roof top of caves

Nandi in front of caves

They have noticed the “Linga” deep inside the cave and started worshiping lord Shiva.  Lord Shiva’s vehicle ‘nandi’ is seen outside the caves.  It is also believed that Lord Rama and Sita lived here and worshipped Lord Shiva and the turmeric and vermillion they used for worship is the cause of colored sediment seen in the waters in the cave.  Archeological people have also discovered articles which suggest people lived in these caves hundreds of years ago.  A railway track runs on the top of the caves.

There is a small roof top cave where we find a naturally formed Shiva Linga receiving regular ceremonial worship rituals.  Large number of locals visit this temple on Shivaraathri (Hindu festival of worshipping lord Shiva all day and night). Here it is very dark.  One has to climb steps to reach the narrow lobby.  Only one person can stand here and see the Shiva Linga.  There is little space where a pujari sits.  The steps to this place are straight upwards and difficult to climb.  People who have joint pains should think twice before climbing on to these steps. 

There is total darkness in the caves.  Some movie shootings have taken place here.  During shooting of a movie, ‘Jambalakidi pamba’, the caves were electrified and lights arranged at some places.  After the shooting of the movie those lights were left here for the benefit of the tourists.  In the recent past, few more lights were arranged by the tourism minister of AP, Hon.Minister Mrs.Geeta Reddy.  These lights help us to walk in the caves without hitting the walls or stalactites or stalagmites and fellow tourists. 

This is the only pillar like stalagamite extending from the floor of the cave to the roof

Stalacites presenting like floral festoons / chandeliers

Photography in the caves is difficult due to lack of light.  The stalacites and stalagmites formed on the walls present us many structures, imagination is the limit.  The commonest recognised and shown by the guide are the a tiger sitting, mother and child, Lord Ganesha, Shiridi Saibaba, corn cob, human brain etc.  You can see many more with your imagination.  Visiting Borra caves is unique experience of being within moist rocks and water below here and there.  Having a strong torch light for illumination can help in taking photographs.

This is impression of Lord Ganesha

This is said to look like brain.  The surface looks more like a coral

The impression of  Shri Sai Baba is there on the top of the picture

? Rishi?  Can imagine many more pictures

It looks like Amarnath Shrine.  We can also see Brahma.  There is water on the floor here,
may be water trench.  If there had been no railing there is every possibility of falling in it.

Imagine what you can see

I could see a person trying to get up

There is gap/joint between the two rocks.  This joint extends from one end to the
other across the roof of cave.  This indicates two mountains joining or close to
one another.  This distinction is again difficult to notice above the mountains.

View of the entrance to cave from inside the cave

A Beautiful Journey

Padmapuram gardens - Entrance

Last month I happened to be in Vizag, a north Andhra district in India.  Whenever I go to a place I plan to see some nearby or important tourist places in that area.  As I heard that Araku valley and Borra caves are the most important places to be seen in Vizag I planned to visit these places. 

On the way to Araku

Araku was 115Km from Vizag.  The journey is the beautiful than the destination. The winding roads running on the hills besides dales takes more than three hours. The landscapes, coffee plantations, winding roads on the mountains, clusters of dwellings on planes in the valley, all are a visual treat.  The sunset across the hills and trees was splendid.  The changing colors in the sky are the ever ending art of Nature.

Young mother - Child with a kid at Araku

The native folk appear innocent and beautiful untouched by the city ‘culture’.  They are pleasant mannered and friendly.  The places of interest in Araku are the Padmapuram gardens and Araku Museum.  I was very much impressed by the rose garden and statues in the garden.

Araku Garden

The museum has presentation of tribal life style artifacts.  Photography in the museum is prohibited.  There few stalls here selling handicrafts of local people.  There is a swimming pool which is not well maintained.  The amphitheatre here is large enough to hold a huge gathering.

Araku Museum

The best part of Araku visit is the journey.  People who have motion sickness should take tablets to avoid giddiness and vomiting during the course of journey.  The journey though pleasant is risky, only expert driver can take safely.  Even these drivers before embarking on the task will pray at a temple on the road for safe return.