TAKHT-i- RUSTAM 5, Haibak Vihara (Cave at)
36.245800,68.021700
Description
A complex of man-made Buddhist rock chambers (note 1), excavated from limestone, consists of … a double gallery parallel to the cliff face, that is a long inner cave which is lighted from an equally long formal gallery in front of it, which in turn has lights giving on to the cliff-face. This is a vihara, a place of religious retreat and private meditation [(LEVI 1972 edited 1984, 2000: 98]. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: MOORCROFT & TREBECK (1842, 2: 402- 403) describe an interior corridor, following the face of the wall, 132 feet long [40.2 m], by 16.5 broad [5.0 m], leads to another circular and vaulted chamber, of about 37 feet in diameter [11.3 m], but much blocked up by rubbish. The room was of a similar character with the first, but the style of decoration was widely different. CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: TALBOT (1886b: 345) reports from the foot of a neighbouring hill, some 300 yrads off, some half dozen more caves facing towards the Takht. CAVE DESCRIPTION 4: YATE (1888: 322) notes only a long ouble corridor. CAVE DESCRIPTION 5 (COON 1957a): A long series of galleries in which the monks had lived.
Documents
Bibliography 06/01/2018History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1882.09.06: William S. MOORCROFT (1842, 2: 402- 403), George Trekeck and friends visited, explored and took measurements. 1885, November - December: M.G. TALBOT (1886b: 344-347, plate 9), writing on 2nd March 1886, explored. 1954.04.05: Carlton Stevens COON (1957a, 1957b) and Mrs. (i.e. Elizabeth 'Lisa' K. Ralph), Henry 'Hank' W. Coulter jr., and Mohammed Nader Saweri Khan visited. 1970: Peter LEVI (1972 edited 1984, 2000: 86, 2002) in company with Bruce Chatwin, visited.