Located on the East Coast of India, the Borra Caves is one of the largest in the country with an elevation of 2,313 ft with irregular shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The native name is Borra Guhalu meaning hole caves discovered in 1807 by William King George. Oral legends are shared among the Jatapu, Porja, Kondadora, Nookadora, and Valmiki tribes who live in villages around the caves. The most popular legend speaks of a cow that was grazing on top of the caves who had fallen through a hole in the roof. Searching for the cow, the cowherd came across the caves where he found a stone that resembled a lingam (anionic representation of the Hindu deity Shiva) believing Shiva protected the cow. Since then the people had built a small temple for the Hindu deity outside of the cave where people visit to worship and view the Lingam. A second legend narrated among the villages is the story of the Shiva lingam representing the Hindu God Shiva found deep in the caves above a stone formation of a cow. It's presumed that the udder of the cow is the source of the Gosthani River. The legend is significant because of the Hindu aspects of the stories and the sacredness of the cow in the religion.
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