SHIVA, Bhojpur, Koshi zone, Nepal (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Two cave entrances in gravitationally dislocated boulders covered with soil give access to a natural temple cave (note 1), which is not only sacred to Shiva (Siddheshvar, Shivaji, Mahadeo, etc) but also associated with Siddhakali (the mother goddess Kali with siddhi, supernatural abilities) and complete with a fabulous tunnel to the village of Taksar (note 2). SITUATION: In spite of being well known in the area (note 3), the exact location of this cave is not perfectly clear. MUNTHE et alii (1975: 21) place the cave at one Siddhakali temple which lies 400 m (linear or walking?) north of Bhojpur (N27°10'30-: E87°03'13-: 1585 m asl) but 120 vertical metre higher up. The place Siddheshwar, however, is marked on the Central Services Map (1989, sheet 10: Bhojpur District) at N27°10'35-: E87°03'13-: 1585 m asl and thus 5 km in a direct line north-east of Bhojpur in the upper reaches of the Sere Khola, a tributary to the Pikhuwa Khola which drains into the Arun. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Folowing rumours of a through trip by an old hermit, MUNTHE et alii (1975: 21-22) visited the cave who found that Shivaji Gufa is in a very localised pseudo karst [sic! for: epikarst] near a ridge crest a quarter of a mile north of, and 400 feet above, Bhojpur. The cave is developed in house sized blocks of quartz biotite gneiss … formed by fracturing … A mature soil cover … closes what would otherwise be several fissure entrances. [There is an entrance within the premises of the temple, where one has to remove shoes (note 4), and an upper entrance just outside the temple which is] … entered through a sloping fissure between two large blocks. A circular pit near the east of this passage would allow a very small person to reach the lower level of the cave were it not blocked by a rather large brass bell. A high narrow fissure continuous to the easterly termination of the cave, which is in a nearly circular room inhabited by a small bat colony. A sloping passage leads back towards the entrnce and gives access to the lower level via a crawlway. The largest room in the cave is formed between two gigantic blocks leaning against each other. Several very small passages off this room were pushed as far as possible. CAVE LIFE: MUNTHE et alii (1975) mention a small bat colony (Chiroptera) inhabiting a circular chamber at the easterly termination of the cave.nce and gives access to the lower level via a crawlway. The largest room in the cave is formed between two gigantic blocks leaning against each other. Several very small passages off this room were pushed as far as possible. CAVE LIFE: MUNTHE et alii (1975) mention a small bat colony (Chiroptera) inhabiting a circular chamber at the easterly termination of the cave.