The Marabar Caves - page 3

There was no suitable location for the upper caves at Savandurga, so the film crew moved 25 miles south to a mountain near to the town of Ramanagaram. I had to do likewise, so although the guides offered to climb with me to the top of the Karigudda mountain, that would have taken 4 or 5 hours, and I hadn't the time to spare that day. Eager to be off, I bid them farewell, and hoped that I would come back for a longer visit on another occasion. The taxi drove south to the small town of Ramanagaram, surrounded as before by a stunning array of hills and mountains. We stopped to ask a local for directions: he knew nothing about any films being made, but when I drew a simple sketch of a hill with 3 doorways in it, he knew instantly what I meant, and volunteered to show us where the caves were.

Just a short drive out of town and my goal was reached: the three caves exactly as they were in the film. There was one important change, though: instead of being located high in the hills, they were right next to the road. It must have been very convenient for the huge amount of equipment that a film-crew needs when shooting. As before, the 'caves' were not caves at all, but just shallow doorways cut into the rock. I was told in Savandurga that disfiguring the mountain in this way caused great offence to some of the locals.

The scene above is just after the cross-over point in the film, when the location changed from Savandurga to Ramanagaram. In the scene below, Dr Aziz and Adela Quested reach the upper caves. The guide has preceded them, and is sitting on a rock near the closest entrance. The profile of the mountain, above Aziz and Adela, was obviously considered not imposing enough for the film, so a matte was added to take the profile to the top of the frame.

Although a number of cave entrances were cut, only one was used for close-up shots. Miss Quested goes into a cave. Dr Aziz sits outside another whilst having a cigarette, but it was the same entrance used in both shots. Only the angle and the added vegetation is different.

The two shots above, a film-still and my own photo, show the line of cave entrances cut into the cliff face. I wish that I had had the film-stills with me at the time, to try and match the shots.

Judging by the rocks and the vegetation, the scene above must also have been taken at Ramanagaram. Seeing this, and with binoculars in hand, Dr Aziz leaves the upper caves and runs back to Mrs Moore at the lower cave - the scene below thus jumps back to Savandurga, where the remainder of his descent is made.

Too late to prevent the mishap, Mr Fielding arrives at the lower cave after getting a lift from Chandrapore with Mrs Callender. He meets Mrs Moore, and soon after, an agitated Dr Aziz. They pack up camp immediately, and return to Chanderapore.

How To Get There

The easiest way to Savandurga from Bangalore is to drive along NH17E to Magadi and a little before the town take the left turn to Ramanagaram. Ten kilometres later, you will reach Nayakanapalya, another left turn will lead you to Savandurga. Frequent buses ply from Bangalore to Magadi, 49 kms away. There are also buses direct to Savandurga, though check the times, as they leave early in the morning. Ramanagaram is on the main Bangalore to Mysore road.

Savandurga has few facilities for the traveller, though Temple choultries, which provide very basic accommodation and cooking facilities, are available near the temple. The locals are very hospitable though, and for a small payment, may provide you food and accommodation.

Near the village is a medicinal plant centre and a small zoo maintained by the forest department.

Last updated: 13th March 2008