DUBTA PANI
34.500000,74.916700
Description
A stream at Dubta Pani meadow (note 1) / Gadsar Maidan (note 2) »… goes underground [note 3] to reappear at the foot of a gorge about a kilometre below« (SCHETTLER & SCHETTLER 1977; 1980: 81-84; 1981). SITUATION: On the north-east side of Haramukh (Haramokh, Harmukh, Huramuk) and on the eastern side of Satsaran Bar Gali (note 4), a pass ascended on the trek from Sonamarg (note 5) to Gangabal Lake and Wangat (note 6).
NOTE 1: Dubta Pani (Marg?) N34°30': E075°00': 3280 m asl (AMS sheets NI43-06, NI43-07). Pani means water and "dubta" appears to derive from the Sanskrit 'devta' or Hindi 'deota': a divinity. NOTE 2: Gadsar Maidan N34°29': E075°01' (AMS sheet NI43-07). NOTE 3: Simon J. Brooks (1995.08.23 personal communication) identifies the sink at Dubta Pani with –>Leakey's Hole. Compare the –>Haramukh Sinkholes and Swallets. NOTE 4: Satsaran Bar Gali, a pass near N34°26': E074°59': 4289 m or 14,065 feet (AMS sheet NI43-06, 1959 edition). NOTE 5: Sonamarg N34°18': E075°18' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003): 2580 m asl (HIRSCHBERG 1987: 87) or 2660 m asl (STRASSER 1993: 363). NOTE 6: Usually it takes five days to cover the Sonamarg - Wangat trek but an additional day or two is recommended to attempt extinguishing the trouts of Gangabal Lake. DAY 1: 15 km from Sonamarg (the "Gold Meadows" N34°18': E075°18': 2720 m asl, AMS sheet NI43-07) to Nichinai (N34°20': E075°14': 3620 m): Half a kilometer past the bridge at Shitkari [N34°19': E075°16', NI43-07] the trail leaves the bank of the Sindh and climbs 910 m up the left side of the mountain to Nichinai (a village on the Nichinai Nar). Wood and water are on hand in the camp. DAY 2: 13 km from Nichinai to Krishansar (Krishan Sar, a lake near N34°23': E075°06': 3819 m): Cross the Nichinai chain (4080 m) and follow the river till crossing at Hirampathri. Enroute pass by Vishansar (Vishan Sar, a lake near N34°22': E075°07': 3680 m) and reach the camp at Krishansar. There is a good camp site with water and trout fishing possibilities but the only wood is that sold by nomads at rather high prices. DAY 3: Krishansar to Dubta Pani (N34°30': E075°00': 3280 m asl, where the AMS sheets NI43-06 and NI43-07 meet): Cross Razbal Gali (a pass near N34°24': E075°05': 14,228 feet = 4337 m or 4191 m) and follow the right bank of the river. The route descends to the Gadsar Lake [Gad Sar, N34°26': E075°04': 3680 m) and cross the river at Gadsar Maidan (N34°29': E075°01'). There is no fire wood at Dubta Pani, only possibilities to collect fuel on the final ascent to the camp. DAY 4: 17 km from Dubta Pani to Gangabal Lake (N34°20': E074°56': 3570 m, on AMS sheet NI43-06): Ascend to Satsaran Gali (Satsaran Bar Gali, a pass near N34°26': E074°59': 3680 m, only open from June to October). The climb then follows to Zajibal Gali pass (4081 m, open only from June to October). The camp site at Gangabal Lake has wood, water and trout fishing. The Lake, at the foot of Harmukh, is the site for a major pilgrimage each August. DAY 5: 19 km descending 1500 m from Gangabal Lake to Wangat (N34°19'35”: E074°56'55”: 2050 m, AMS sheet NI43-06).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15.1 | SOORAPRA CRATER | ||
| 15.1 | WANGAT MINES, Kangan | ||
| 15.5 | DAWAR POST OFFICE (Cave at) | ||
| 16.7 | GURAIS (Cave at) | ||
| 17.1 | DANISHAWAR CAVE, Erin Valley | ||
| 17.3 | TOOMOO CRATER | ||
| 18.5 | CHORWAN, Sukial Nala (Cave at) | ||
| 18.8 | LASHIMARG SINK | ||
| 29.5 | BAGTOR (Cave near) |