Pandavula Gutta | Ramgarh Crater

• Context (TH | TOI): Pandavula Gutta, a geological marvel older than the Himalayan hills, has been officially recognised as the sole Geo-heritage site in Telangana.

Pandavula Gutta, Telangana

• Pandavula Gutta is a hillock located about 50 km away from Warangal city. It is older than Himalayas.
• It was first discovered in the year 1990. It is rich in terms of number of paintings, rock shelters and its habitation, right from the Mesolithic to medieval times.
• These cave paintings offer a rare glimpse into the prehistoric man’s rock art identified on walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters and isolated boulders.
• The rock art paintings depict wildlife like Bison, Antelope, Tiger, and Leopard, etc.
• Other shapes like swastika symbol, circles and squares, weapons such as bows, arrows, sword and lancer and so on are present in these paintings.
• The paintings also feature geometrical designs and impressions in green, red, yellow and white pigment colours.

Ramgarh Crater, Rajasthan

• Ramgarh Crater has been named India’s first National Geo Heritage site by the Rajasthan Government.
• The structure is 165 million years old and 3.5km across and is a culturally significant and spiritual site with a 10^th century temple.
• It has been declared a Conservation Reserve, namely Ramgarh Conservation Reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The Pushkar Talab complex, located inside the crater, is a source of both saline and alkaline water.
• Bhand Deva Temple is constructed on the meteor impact crater.

What are Geo-Heritage Sites?

• Geo-heritage refers to sites that offer insights into the evolution of the earth and can be used for research, reference, and awareness.
• These sites may have unique rock formations, fossils, or landscapes that are important for education, research, cultural significance, or visual appeal.
• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares geo-heritage sites/national geological monuments for protection and maintenance.
• Objectives:
  • Promote geotourism.
  • Preserve unique geological formations.
  • Enhance geological literacy among the public.

Geological Survey of India GSI was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. Headquartered in Kolkata, it has six regional offices located in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata. It is an attached office of the Ministry of Mines. It creates and updates the national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. It also documents the surface and subsurface geological processes of India and its offshore areas.