Kotumsar Cave

Kotumsar Cave is a famous limestone cave located inside Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, about 35 km from Jagdalpur. Formed on the Kanger limestone belt, it is considered one of the longest natural caves in India with a length of about 1,350 metres. The cave is known for its stalactite and stalagmite formations, narrow passages and underground chambers and remains a major natural attraction of Bastar.

Visitors can expect a guided walk through a dark limestone cave with narrow passages, low ceilings and uneven floors. Inside are natural stalactite and stalagmite formations, pillars and chambers formed by water action on limestone. The cave is unlit and explored with torches provided by guides. The surrounding area is dense forest of Kanger Valley National Park. Access requires a short walk from the parking area and entry through a vertical fissure. The cave is closed during monsoon due to waterlogging.

Kotumsar Cave is a natural limestone karst cave formed over thousands of years by dissolution of limestone by groundwater in the Kanger Valley. It was scientifically documented in the 1950s and later surveyed by speleologists. The cave has been known to local tribal communities for generations and was subsequently developed as a protected site within Kanger Valley National Park, notified in 1982.

The cave lies in the Bastar tribal region and is part of the natural heritage of Kanger Valley, an area inhabited by tribal communities. It is valued as a natural and educational site showcasing karst geology and unique cave ecology, and is promoted as a key ecotourism attraction of Chhattisgarh.