Kotumsar Cave: A Subterranean Wonder

Kotumsar Cave, nestled within the Kanger Valley National Park in Chhattisgarh, India, is a captivating natural wonder that draws visitors into a subterranean realm of geological marvels and unique biodiversity. Known locally as 'Gopansar' (hidden cave) in earlier times, it gained prominence as Kotumsar Cave due to its proximity to Kotumsar village. The cave, formed on the Kanger limestone belt, stretches approximately 1370 meters, with a depth of 35 meters below ground level. While the cave's full extent remains largely unexplored, a 200-meter stretch is open to tourists, who can traverse it via a concrete pathway. This path leads through a vertical fissure in the hillside, the cave's main entry point. Inside, the cave reveals a stunning display of stalactites and stalagmites, formed over millennia by the slow deposition of minerals. These formations create a surreal landscape, showcasing nature's artistry. The cave also harbors a unique ecosystem, home to species adapted to the darkness, including the famous blind fish, crickets, and other arthropods. The cave's existence has been known since the British era, but it was in the 1950s that systematic exploration began, led by geographer Dr. Shankar Tiwari. Further mapping and research in the 1980s, with the help of Romanian cavers, revealed more of the cave's secrets. The Kanger Valley National Park, established in 1982, has played a crucial role in conserving the cave's fragile environment. Kotumsar Cave also holds cultural significance for the local tribes, who have long revered caves as sacred places and associate them with deities and ancestral spirits.