One of the three famous Mogalrajapuram caves in the City is being totally neglected by the Department of Archaeology (DoA). This cave, located near Pushpa Hotel Centre at Kasturibaipeta, is out of bounds for visitors due to accumulation of poisonous and malodorous gases inside as its doors have been kept closed for years together.
The three caves -- located at Mogalrajpuram and Kasturibaipeta here - are popularly known as Mogalrajpuram Caves and have historical significance. These caves, built in the 5th or 6th century AD, were declared to be of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archeologicial Sites and Remains Act of 1959. The DoA has erected a fence to protect the historical caves.
What is inside the out-of-bounds- to-visitors cave is a mystery to the locals even today. The cave has become a resting place for bats and other creatures. Its environs are bereft of greenery.
Locals and monument lovers want the government to rid the cave of the poisonous and malodorous gases and clean up the cave and open it up to the visitors.
However, the DoA is maintaining the other two caves well. Of them, the cave located near the Siddhartha Arts and Science College has the carvings of Goddess Kanaka Durga at the ground floor. The other one located at Kasturibaipeta has the idols of Lord Nataraja, Vinayaka and Arthanareeswara. Beautiful elevation and broad steps have been built to reach this cave.
Akkanna Madanna Caves located at the foot of the Indrakeeladri hillock here is another important monument in the Ccity. These beautiful caves were brought to a shape by Akkanna and Madanna, the famous ministers of the Qutb-Shah (1611 A.D.-1672 A.D.), the Nawab of Golconda. But, historians claim these caves belong to 6th and 7th century AD and were built along with the Mogalrajpuram Caves.