Stalactite and stalagmite formations in the Kutumsar Caves in Bastar District, Chattisgarh, India

These are prehistoric caves located in Kanger Valley National Park, about 35 km from Jagdalpur. The entrance to the cave is through an iron gate and the passage below is very narrow, descending vertically for about 35 meters, before opening up among limestone rocks. The caves are famous for their stalactite and stalagmite formation and a Shiv Linga, placed at the end of the cave, attracts a lot of religious followers to this place. The distance to the other end of the cave is about 330 meters, making it one of the world`s largest natural caves. The cave has been known for a long time, but not taken seriously until the 1950s, when the geography professor Dr. Shankar Tiwari first attempted to explore its chambers. However, it was systematically mapped in the 1980s by Dr. Jayant Biswas a PhD scholar, guided by a Romanian caver. A new species of blind fish, frog and cricket have since been discovered in these caves.

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