Context: Pandavula Gutta, an ancient geological marvel in Telangana (Jayashankar Bhupalpally District), has been designated as the exclusive Geo-heritage site in the state.

About Pandavula Gutta

• It is older than the Himalayas and showcases ancient rock paintings in various colours like green, red, yellow, and white. 

• It is located in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana is home to many prehistoric habitation sites.

• The paintings depict symbols such as swastikas, circles, squares, and animals like bison, antelope, tiger, and leopard.

• It is rich in terms of number of paintings, rock shelters and its habitation, right from the mesolithic to medieval times.

• The paintings feature geometrical designs and impressions in green, red, yellow and white pigment colours. 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.

About Geo-heritage Sites

• Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally significant offering insight into earth’s evolution or history to earth science or that can be utilized for education. 

• Sites are designated as Geo-heritage Sites (GHS) by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). India, as a member of the UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, safeguards such sites through appropriate legislation, as done by other countries worldwide.

• Scientifically and educationally significant geoheritage sites include those with textbook geologic features and landscapes, distinctive rock or mineral types, unique or unusual fossils, or other geologic characteristics that are significant to education and research. 

• Culturally significant geoheritage sites are places where geologic features or landscapes played a role in cultural or historical events.

• Aesthetically significant geoheritage sites include landscapes that are visually appealing because of their geologic features or processes

About the Geological Survey of India

• Headquartered in Kolkata, it was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. Presently, GSI is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines. 

• The main functions of the GSI relate to the creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment.