How Deep Did Subhas Fall In Guna Cave? Into The Devil’s Kitchen With Manjummel Boys
Subhas is Gone!
Subhas is Gone!
Within a blink, Subhas indeed vanishes into an 80-feet-long pit at Guna Cave. Remember this scene from the 2024 Hit Movie Manjummel Boys?
The movie, based on a true incident at Guna Cave in 2006, was also the center of attention at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Fortunately, Siju David and other friends of Subhash, or the Manjummel Boys, made the impossible happen.
How they convinced the Police, Forest Department, and other authorities to operate the rescue operation and how Siju David himself went into the pit to bring back Subhas tells a story of friendship, unconditional love, and human resilience.
Guna Cave was previously known as Devil’s Kitchen, and it received its name from the Kanmani Anbodu song of the Kamal Haasan Blockbuster Gunaa, which was shot here.
You can see Guna Cave after a short walk through pine forests. Grass and shola trees cover the entire cave area.
The twisted and gnarled roots of the trees here create a sense of intrigue. You know, I was watching the movie, and when I found the patterns created by the roots, I found them very eerie.
I could visualize people making circles around these roots and practicing the occult after the Sun goes down. Indeed, there are stories about local tribes performing certain rituals at the cave, making the intrigue around the place deeper.
Nevertheless, today, despite restricted access and the stories of Manjummel Boys spreading out, Guna Cave remains a popular tourist attraction in Tamil Nadu.
Do you also want to explore this Kodaikanal Wonder? Read this Dream and Travel Guide.
Guna Cave Kodaikanal: Facts You Must Know
Guna Caves now have barricades and iron grills so that no tourist can get inside the cave. You can only see it from a distance.
However, the view is enough to evoke a sense of mystery. Additionally, Guna Cave is home to a delicate ecological system, and its unique rock formations and complex tunnels make this a place of geological wonder.
Furthermore, the high-altitude grasslands, surrounding forests, and breathtaking views of the Western Ghats make Guna Cave a popular tourist destination in Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO), the oldest in India, is located just 20 minutes away. It is one of the best places for stargazing in India.
• How Deep Is Guna?
⁃ Guna Cave depth in feet is 3000 feet. However, light inside the Guna Cave can reach only upto 500 feet.
• What Is The Guna Caves Height?
⁃ The height of Guna Cave is 2230 Meters.
• Where Is Guna Cave Located?
⁃ Guna Cave is located at Moir Point Road, Kodaikanal, in Tamil Nadu.
• What Is The Best Time To Visit Guna Cave?
⁃ April to June and December to February are the best times to visit Kodaikanal and Guna Cave.
Monsoons in Kodaikanal are beautiful, but they are not ideal for places like Guna Cave.
• Who Discovered Guna Cave?
⁃ Mr B. S. Ward, an American, discovered Guna Cave in 1821.
• What Is The Ticket Price Of Guna Caves?
⁃ The ticket price for Guna Cave is INR 5 per person and INR 10 for a still camera.
• Guna Cave Hours Open:
⁃ 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Why Is Guna Caves Famous?
Guna Cave, like the similarly named Yana Cave in Karnataka, has an interesting mythological history.
According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas stayed in this cave during their exile and prepared their meals there.
Furthermore, the winding paths of the cave, the complex patterns created by the roots of the trees, and the unique rock formations have all contributed to an eerie atmosphere at Guna Cave.
Also, Guna Cave, a bat colony and the epicenter of a delicate ecosystem, is a favorite of nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Furthermore, Guna Cave got its name after the Kamal Haasan movie Gunaa, which was shot here and became a blockbuster.
Recently, the movie Manjummel Boys has again stirred interest in the Guna Cave among movie buffs and tourists.
Again, there are stories of hidden treasures and haunted occurrences inside the shadowy depths or hidden chambers of Guna Cave.
Why Is Guna Cave Called Devil’s Kitchen? How Many People Died In Guna Cave?
The scene where Subhas asks Siju David, “Who are You?” and grabs his throat almost looks like the evil personified in action. I had my heart in my mouth for a moment.
Do you know what is the mystery behind Guna Cave? The cave is home to countless bats, which are associated with darkness and evil.
So, the name must have come from there. Also, at least 16 people have died in the Guna Cave, creating a strong belief that people who once fall inside the cave or any pit there will be devoured by the evil and never return.
Many people also associate the name “Devil’s Kitchen” with the myth of the Pandavas cooking their meals here. However, this version fails to justify the origin of the ‘devil’ part in the name.
Also, the nearby Pillar Rocks often have a veil of mist, creating a sense of mystery.
When The Manjummel Boy Director Sensed Death At The Devil’s Kitchen
The team from Manjummel Boys recently released a behind-the-scenes video to celebrate the one-year completion of the film. The video demonstrates the challenges of shooting at Guna Cave despite the use of advanced technology.
Ultimately, Ajayan Chalissery, the production designer, had to recreate the entire cave.
Also, in that video, Chidambaram, the writer-director of Manjummel Boys, said that it was death that welcomed them to Guna Cave.
“The first thing that greeted us in the cave was death,” says Chidambaram. “When I descended to the mouth of the cave strenuously and saw the pit he (Sreenath Bhasi’s character Subash) slipped in, it was a monkey’s skull that welcomed us. The smell there was such. I could see and smell rocks deprived of sunlight for years. When I saw all these, I realized it’s impossible to shoot there.
Unlike that film, though, our film takes place entirely in the Guna cave, and even if we did get to shoot it in the caves, it has to be in such a way that we have to be in control of the process. So we realized that the only way to do it is to recreate the Guna caves.“
– Chidambaram, Writer and Director, Manjummel Boys
Guna Cave Incident 2006: The Story Behind The Movie Manjummel Boys
The Manjummel Boys Guna Cave incident occurred in 2006, when a group of 11 friends from Manjummel, near Kochi, decided to go on a trip to Kodaikanal. They had plans for a trip to Goa initially, and that did not work out.
Nevertheless, after they visited Kodaikanal, one member of the group suggested that they should explore the Guna Cave, which had become a popular site due to the Kamal Haasan blockbuster, Gunaa.
However, the over-enthusiastic group of boys wanted to go deeper into the caves. While exploring the Devil’s Kitchen, Subhas, one of those eleven boys, fell into a pit suddenly.
It was a moment of blink and vanish for all the other boys in the group.
Clueless, the boys approached the Tamil Nadu Police, got beaten by them, and somehow managed to convince the forest department and other concerned authorities to rescue Subhash.
However, nobody was willing to go inside the pit, and Subhas’s friend, Siju David, volunteered to take on the task of rescuing Subhas.
Both of them returned alive from the pit.
This is the story of the 2024 movie Manjummel Boys, which has created such a ripple that the Tamil Nadu government has initiated an investigation into the Police behavior of the real Manjummel Boys in 2006.
A Guna Cave Fall Incident Again Happened In 2012
In 2012, Karthik fell into a 300-foot-deep gorge of Guna Cave while trying to retrieve his shoes. He was at the Guna Cave for a picnic trip with six friends.
The fire rescue personnel and the police department launched an operation to rescue Karthik, as reported by the Press Trust of India in 2012.
Any further information about the incident is not available.
How To Reach Guna Cave From Kodaikanal?
Guna Cave is around 8.5 km away from Kodaikanal. You can travel the distance by bus or book a car.
Between the Pillar Caves and Green Valley View, Guna Cave can be reached through trails from various nearby viewpoints.
However, it is best to start the hike from the downward trail and reach Guna Cave through pine forests.
Guna Cave Kodaikanal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Guna Cave.
1. Is Guna Caves’ Story Real?Yes, the story of the Guna Cave, about Subhash falling into an 80-foot-deep pit and being rescued by Siju David, is real.
This incident happened in 2006, and the 2024 movie Manjummel Boys is based on this true story.2. Why Are Guna Caves Banned?You cannot now enter Guna Cave, and the pit where Subhash fell is now sealed with metal grids.
It has happened due to rising safety concerns at Guna Cave, Kodaikanal.3. Has Anyone Survived Guna Caves?Yes, Subhash, the member of Manjummel Boys who fell into a deep pit, survived Guna Caves.
His friend, Siju David, rescued him.4. Did Pandavas Stay In Guna Caves?Yes, there are stories about the Pandavas staying and cooking their meals in the Guna Caves during their exile.
Some even associated the name “Devil Kitchen” with the Pandavas finding shelter and cooking their meals here.5. How Many People Have Fallen In Guna Caves?Around 17-18 people have fallen into the Guna Caves. Subhash, a guy who visited the Guna Caves with his friends in 2006, was the only person who had survived a fall in the Guna Cave.
