GWALIOR FORT NATURAL CAVITIES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 28/03/2016

»Several natural cavities in the rock contain a perpetual supply of water« (HUNTER, W 1801 for 29 February 1792) and represent either pools of water in the open air or shaded underground cisterns near the top of the rock of Fort Gwalior IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 12: 443) recorded a large number of »tanks« (water reservoirs): »The oldest Tank is Suraj Kund, or 'Tank of the Sun', where a temple formerly stood. At the northern end is Johar tank, where the Rajputs sacrificed their women and children to save them from capture when the fort was taken by Altamsh in 1232.« MAHOMET, D (1794: letter XXX= 30) narrates having helped taking »Fort Ganlin« (Gwalior Fort) from the »Morattoes« (Mahrata's) on 4th August 1779 and draws the attention of the well watching world to the Gwalior Rock's »table [which] is entirely surrounded by a rampart of stone, rising immediately from the edge of the rock, which in most parts, is rendered perpendicular. Within the rampart are many fine buildings, large tanks, innumerable wells, and cultivated land.« POTENTIAL EMPTYNESS: Compare –>Chaturbhuj Cave, the –>Gwalior Temple Cave, and Man Singh Palace Undergrounds -- all on the Gopagiri (Gopadri, Gopachala) or Gwalior Rock, the hill crowned by the Gwalior Fortress.