DECHEN PHUG, Netham: PADMASAMBHAVA PHUG

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Dechen Phug, the cave of great happiness at Netham, consists of a pair of natural sacred caves (temple caves), of which one is dedicated to Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) and the other to Yeshe Tsogyal (Ye shes mThso rGyal). The -male- Dechen Phug at Netham is got at by following the trail to a Dharamsala and by crossing over a creek and by climbing to the right-hand side. SITUATION: About 36 km in a direct line NNW of Darjeeling (N27°02': E088°16') on the north-eastern flank of Netham, a spur descending eastwards from the Singalila Range in west Sikkim and close to the border with Nepal. Uwe Scherzer (1997.05.07 Mss) reached the pair of caves in October 1996 by sharing a jeep up to the village of Nambu (note 1) and walking about 4.5 km upstream the Rimbi Chu (a tributary stream from the north-west to the Rathong Chu). Dechenphuk is marked near N27°20': E088°07' in an area about 15 km in a direct line approximately NNE of the popular trekker's aim and viewpoint Phalut (N27°13*$: E088°02') and 13 or 14 km north- east of Mt. Singalila (peak N27°14': E088°02'). CAVE DESCRIPTION (Scherzer 1997.05.07 Mss): Wooden steps give access to the first rift of several constituting this gravitational talus cave. The way to the subterranean place of worship runs through several rifts (up to 2 m wide, 10 m high and 20 m long) containing /October 1996) disintegrating wooden climbing aids.*$: E088°02') and 13 or 14 km north- east of Mt. Singalila (peak N27°14': E088°02'). CAVE DESCRIPTION (Scherzer 1997.05.07 Mss): Wooden steps give access to the first rift of several constituting this gravitational talus cave. The way to the subterranean place of worship runs through several rifts (up to 2 m wide, 10 m high and 20 m long) containing /October 1996) disintegrating wooden climbing aids.