kotumsar cave: Scary Yet Exciting Unique Caves

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Ever wondered about walking into an underground cave?
Into the darkness, with less oxygen yet biologically best-known cave and one of the largest/deepest natural caves in India?
Yes, you’ve heard it right! Witness the underground art of nature at Kotumsar Cave.

In the state of Chhattisgarh, Kotumsar cave is located in Kanger Valley National Park, some 30 kilometers from Jagdalpur city, the center of the Bastar district.
There are three ways to get to Jagdalpur: via road, train, or air.
Roads provide excellent access to it. There are both private and public transportation options available to get there, including buses and taxis. The closest railway station is in the Bastar area, at Jagdalpur Railway Station.
Jagdalpur city has its own regional airport as well. You can get direct flights only from Raipur and Hyderabad for now.

The cave was already known since the British rule of India; it was first found by local tribals in 1900, but it wasn’t considered seriously until Dr. Shankar Tiwari, a geography professor, visited the cave and made an effort to investigate its chambers in 1951 using scant supplies and equipment.
Later on, Dr. Jayant Biswas, who was a Ph.D. student at the time, began the process of mapping the cave in the 1980s with the help of a Romanian caver.

It is a limestone cave close to the bank of the River Kanger, a tributary of the Kolab River, formed on the Kanger limestone belt.
Even though the true length of Kotumsar is more than 500 meters, tourists are only permitted to walk a maximum of 330 meters inside the cave, due to less oxygen and less accessibility inside.
Tourists are at first discouraged from entering these caverns due to the complete darkness within, the steep drop to the base, and the risk of suffocation; but, once inside, no one can stop themselves from exploring them out of curiosity.
A variety of speleothem types provide panoramic views.

During the monsoon season, which typically lasts from the middle of June until the middle of October, the cave is frequently flooded. Tourists cannot visit the location at this time. Caves reopen at the end of October or from the beginning of November. Cave also has a number of water pools that are constantly being supplied by seepage.

Enjoy the Eco-Tourism at Kotumsar Cave as it is well maintained by the Forest Department.
The department is maintaining this cave in accordance with the tourism context, particularly in Kanger Valley National Park. Since there are stairs up to three levels, the entryway is now easier to approach.

As a Sustainable and Responsible Tourist,
one should NOT TOUCH the limestone formations of the caves.
It took thousands-millions of years to get these natural masterpieces.
➕
Never throw trash/plastic waste to avoid pollution.

🟢Kotumsar Cave-STORYLINE (Everything you need to know)

Have you ever visited limestone caves or any other natural caves around you?
If not yet, no worries; I’ll take you there for a moment so that you can revisit there in real later.
Kotumsar Cave as I’ve mentioned before is located in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, India.
Amidst dense forest area.
I’ve planned this amazing memorable mini trip with 3 of my friends to chillax and unwind in less-explored Chhattisgarh.
I would’ve never thought of visiting Chhattisgarh without one of my friend’s suggestions as he’s a native of that state.

Chhattisgarh is well known for the waterfalls and vast forest region but it’s also known for the Naxalites, and many people literally laughed and asked, “Why traveling to Chhattisgarh, what’s there??”
But hold on, I ask you what’s not there?
I’m here to break all the rumor-mongering of Chhattisgarh. In fact, I came across many pleasant and helpful folks there.
So it’s a kind request to all that please stop spreading rumors about it unless and until you’ve personally visited that place and start traveling to such a lovely state, Chhattisgarh.
I believe that the less developed regions have the most natural and picturesque places to explore.
I can assure you that these caves are going to frighten and surprise you at the same time.
Definitely worth a visit.

I traveled via train to Raipur(The capital of Chhattisgarh). From there it’s a 7-8 Hours journey via road to Jagdalpur city.
After an overnight stay at Takshila Resort Jagdalpur, we set off for Kotumsar Cave, which is a part of Kanger National Park and 30KMs away from Jagdalpur City.
To enter the national park, one has to book a Jungle Safari Jeep. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the national park. So we booked the jeep and started our journey to Kotumsar Cave.

We started out well by visiting Kanger Dhara, a little waterfall inside the national park.
The Kanger River carves out the waterfalls at Kanger Dhara due to the presence of undulating rocks.
Then we finally moved on to Kotumsar cave. The wonderful weather made the 10-kilometer ride through a deep woodland, which was quite soothing. Sunny but cool breeze vibes and the tall trees provided us with shade the entire ride.
After 16 minutes of drive, we reached Kotumsar cave. The area before the Kotumsar cave had a parking lot for the jeeps and a few local food stalls were also available there.
Initially, I thought there would be a trek, but I was wrong about it, you just have to walk a few steps underground for approx. 72m deep and 330m long. In fact, it’s a short underground hike.

Are you claustrophobic?
Do you get anxious in confined places?
Or have any fear of dark and isolated areas?

Before the entrance gate of Kotumsar cave, there was a green board where it showed warning instructions for people who have Blood Pressure issues(Take medication before entering). As per my experience, I won’t suggest the elderly and toddlers, as the entrance of the caves is very narrow. You have to creep or crawl to cross a certain area at the beginning and have to cross the round narrow stairs. And inside there is less oxygen.

When I saw the entrance I got anxious and curious at the same time. It seemed like a diverging big rock, a vertical fissure, and from there we had to enter the cave. I got a bit confused about whether I should go inside or not.
I’m not a claustrophobic person but don’t know why that place was making me phobic.
But then I pushed myself, and I raised my curiosity over my fear.

“To experience the real life, surpass your fear by curiosity.“

Neha Kaithwas

As we started walking down the fissure, the passage became narrower and darker, we had to bend down to creep or crawl to cross a certain area at the beginning and had to cross the circular narrow stairs.
The entrance was kinda spooky, no lies! Thanks to the Guide who showed us torchlight all the way inside the cave, because there was no electricity inside the caves. But later on, the cave became broader as we stepped down the round stairs.
It felt humid and smelled muddy or earthy inside. A few areas of the caves were wet, dripping water. Numerous stalagmites and stalactites(cave mineral deposits) were so long that they were so close to touching the ground and vice-versa.

It was difficult to believe or accept that the caverns’ interiors contained huge natural chambers with tall ceilings.
A cave’s structure is similar to a honeycomb and is made up of some asymmetrical chambers.
That underground world seemed unreal. It felt like a different world or like a movie set.
One of the chambers looked like a huge hallway having a natural chandelier hanging(Stalactite) above at the center of the Chamber.
It was unexpected to witness such a beautiful art by nature.
I’ve been to Baratang Cave in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, but I’ve never seen such a huge and unique cave like Kotumsar Cave ever in my life.

Many researchers have been drawn to the kotumsar cave because of its abundant biodiversity.
Our tour guide took us to a water pool inside the caves, where a species of fish named “albinic cavefish” lives, which are also known as “Blind Fishes”. These species are blind and have adapted to live in this different environment of darkness and less oxygen, and if they’re shifted to the normal conditions of sunlight, they would probably die.
Other species of Bats, Frogs, and Insects also live there. There’s still scope for more research and exploration.

It took about 30 minutes to travel and cherish Kotumsar Cave.
Permission for tourists is for 330m only. But the actual size of the cave is more than 500m. Due to little oxygen and accessibility inside, entry is restricted there.
Forest officials found and explored a small but incredibly panoramic chamber in 2011. It is not open to tourists because of the difficult accessibility.
The Kotumsar Cave is reputed to be the seventh-largest cave in the world and the second-longest natural cave in the world, according to some sources.
There are many counter-statements on this but as per what I’ve researched online and locally, it is one of the biggest, deepest, and most biologically-known caves in India!
Dandak Cave, Devgiri Cave, and many other caves are yet to be discovered completely.

So, what are you waiting for?
Visit here with your friends and family to witness the surprising underground world in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.

The best thing your money can buy are “Experiences”.
Experiences are life, life is an experience!
Live your life, stay alive!

Neha Kaithwas

🟢Conclusion-Kotumsar Cave

Kotumsar Cave is one of the largest natural caves in India. Its unique narrow entrance of vertical fissure, rich biodiversity inside the darkness, less oxygen, and the underground huge artistic chambers keep attracting many tourists and researchers around the nation.
For people who love adventures and exploration, this place is a way to go.

More places to travel near Kotumsar Cave:-
1) Dandak Caves
2) Kailash Caves
3) Tirathgarh Waterfall
4) Chitrakoot Waterfall(Niagara Falls of India)

Which is the largest natural cave in the world? Share it in the comments below.


Have Fun Exploring!
Happy & Safe Journeys!


For more interesting locations click on Learn More!

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