LAKHU UDYAR
29.766700,79.616700
Description
The Lakhu Udyar is a relatively large rock shelter about 10 m above the level of the adjacent streambed. The archaeologically important site contains rock art and yielded microliths (note 1) but is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (Scherzer 1991.08.18 Mss). This item is possibly identical with –>Dalband Shelter 1 and Dalband Shelter 2. ETYMOLOGY: So far, I saw the name of the "Ten-Thousand Caves" recorded as Lakhu Udiyar Scherzer (1991.08.18 Mss; 1991.11 Mss) Lakhu Udyar DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 36); JOSHI (1988: 73 figure 2a) and Lakhudyar himalayanhills.com/archeology.html (accessed 26.12.2004). SITUATION (mere guesswork): The site lies possibly next to a motorable road because it is A) archaeologically investigated, B) protected by the ASI, and C) advertised as a sightseeing spot fit for tourists. At a suitable distance of 16 km or 19 km (10 or 12 miles) along the road from Almora north towards Baijnath (N29°55': E079°37'), there is a more or less fitting place »Udhyari« indicated near N29°46': E079°37' on AMS sheet NH44-10 Almora (U502 series, 1958 edition). SITUATION 1974: NOT SEEN: JOSHI (1974). SITUATION 1988: JOSHI (1988: 73) places »the painted rock shelters … in close proximity of a dolmenoid structure at Dalband near Barechina [note 2] where stands the famous Lakhu Udyar rock-shelter (Binsar Gad valley) (Joshi, 1974).« SITUATION 1991: At a travelling distance of about 20 km from Almora (N29°37': E079°40': 1650 m asl) along the road approximately north to Barechina (Scherzer 1991.11 Mss: Caves of the Kumaoni Hills). SITUATION 1993: »16 km« (or 16 miles?) in an unidentified direction from Almora (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 36). SITUATION 2004: On the river Suyal (note 3) and 20 km from Almora in an unidentified direction (himalayanhills.com/archeology.html accessed 26.12.2004). CAVE DESCRIPTION: »The cave is 50 mtr high and 8 mtr long and 2 mtr width is there« (himalayanhills.com/archeology.html accessed 26.12.2004, literally quoted) CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: AGRAWAL & JOSHI, M P (1978) mention paintings at –>Dalband Shelter 1 and –>Dalband Shelter 2. JOSHI, M P (1988: 73) mentions »the painted rock shelters … Lakhu Udyar rock-shelter (Binsar Gad valley) (Joshi, 1974)« and explains that »On circumstantial [sic!] and stylistic grounds these painted rock-shelters have been assigned to the mesolithic-chalcolithic period (Agrawal and Joshi, 1978)« but we can safely assume that it is not the rock shelter that can be »assigned to the mesolithic - chalcolithic period« (note 4) but the paintings. JOSHI, M P (1988 figure 2a between pages 86 and 87) gives a monochrome photograph (without scale) with the captation »Rock painting in the prehistoric (ca 5000 - 2000 B.B.) caves at Lakhu Udyar, near Barechina (photo by Yashodhar Mathpal, Bhimtal)« and showing five human beings in a row. Scherzer (1991.11 Mss: Caves of the Kumaoni Hills): »The paintings are still in a good condition and show figures (10 cm to 30 cm high) and abstracted ornaments in red colour. The figures can be easily interpreted as human beings.« himalayanhills.com/archeology.html (26.12.2004): Paintings in red ochre depict animals and groups of twelve dancing humans »7 cm high« (more likely: some 7 inches or about 20 cm high) wearing "mukhotas" (long cloths): »Some designs are in zig-zag shape. The paintings at the top of roof are amazing, the visitors astonished to see the painting at such a great height.«
NOTE 1: AGRAWAL, BHATT, MALAIYA & KHARKWAL (1991: 62) found microliths without any contextual evidence. NOTE 2: Neither »Dalband« nor »Barechina« is identified as these places are not listed in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006 index) and on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) or shown on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 12 B3, D3) and on AMS sheet NH44-10 Almora (U502 series, 1958 edition). NOTE 3: Not a »Suyal« but a river »Sual« (arriving from the east) is indicated on AMS sheet NH44-10 Almora (1958 edition) joining the Kali (a tributary to the Kosi) at distance of 5 km in a direct line south of Almora (N29°37': E079°40': 1650 m asl). NOTE 4: The adjective »chalcolitic« (Indian archaeologists' English) is applied 1. »… to essentially stone-using communities to which copper and bronze are rare luxuries« and 2. »less aptly, to copper- and broze using communities which retain a substatial though subordinate stone equipment. … The term has been widely and not always very discriminatley used by writers on Indian archaeology« and »may be accepted as an ugly utility-term; an alternative label, 'Protometallic', is scarcely more elegant or exact« (WHEELER 1959 revised 1968c, 1968d: 93).
Documents
Bibliography 06/04/2016Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | DALBAND SHELTER 1 | ||
| 1.9 | DALBAND SHELTER 2 | ||
| 13.1 | WABA CAVE, Sunerakot | ||
| 15.6 | VIVEKANADA, Almora (Cave of) | ||
| 15.6 | FARKANAULI, Kasardeve | ||
| 15.6 | FALSEEMA ROCK SHELTERS, Kasardeve | ||
| 17.4 | DOCRIANI BAMAK GLACIER CAVES (Cave of) | ||
| 18.2 | BAGESUR HOLES | ||
| 18.3 | GORI UDYAR, Lahurgad |