BHAMANI DHAUR
30.716700,79.600000
Description
NOTE 1: »Bhamani Dhaur« (SWIFT 1982: 186) or »Bhaman Dhaur« (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 53) is indicated as »Bamani Dhaur (camping ground)« near N30°43': E079°36' on AMS sheet NH44-06 Nanda Devi (U502 series, 1958 edition). NOTE 2: Without having been anywhere near the site, DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 53) claims --of course without acknowledging his source of inspiration-- that the cave entrance is closed with a wall but probably wanted to say that it is partly walled-off: »Dans la vallée des fleurs, se trouve la grotte de Bhaman Dhaur dont l'entrée est fermée par un mur.« NOTE 3: Mid June to September or October is the best time to visit the 2 km wide and 5 km long "Valley of Flowers" (Bhiundar, Bhyundar, indicated as Bhiundhar near N30°42': E079°35' (AMS sheet NH44-06 Nanda Devi, 1958 edition): 3000 to 3500 m asl. To enter the national park you have to get a permit at the police post at Govindghat. No camping is allowed, because too many tourists wreck all the flowers, so you have to make a day trip from Ghangaria (3,50 m asl). NOTE 4: Gangria (Ghangaria, Ghangria), at an elevation of 3200 m asl (SWIFT 1982) or 3100 m asl (GRÖTZBACH 1994), is the only place in the vicinity where accommodation is found and starting point for the tourist destination Valley of Flowers and the Sikh gurudwara and place of pilgrimage Hemkund N30°41': E079°36' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003): 4330 m asl (GRÖTZBACH 1994). Available at Ghangaria »basic lodges, gurudwaras and a GMVN Tourist Bungalow with a dormi beds for Rs 170 and rooms for Rs 800. From there it is a 4 km walk to the Valley of Flowers. To get to Hemkund you leave the main path to the Valley of Flowers and take a path 4 km to the right« (vegetarian-restaurants.net accessed 2005.10.06). NOTE 5: The length of the trek along the bridle path between Govind Ghat and Gangria varies between 6 km (SWIFT 1982: 186), 12 km (GRÖTZBACH 1994: 190) and 15 km hard climb (vegetarian-restaurants.net accessed 2005.10.06) and 18 km (uttranchalpradesh.com accessed 2003.07.08). NOTE 6: On the road from Joshimath (N30°34': E079°34') to Badrinath (N30°44': E079°29') on AMS sheet NH44-05 (U502 series) liesGovind Ghat (Gobind Ghat), probably near N30°37': E079°35' (estimated) at an elevation of 1750 m asl (SWIFT 1982) or 1800 m asl (vegetarian-restaurants.net accessed 2005.10.06); along the road 19 km from Joshimath (uttranchalpradesh.com accessed 2003.07.08); 20 km from Joshimath (vegetarian-restaurants.net accessed 2005.10.06) and 10 km from Vishnuprayag, where the Dhauli Ganga joins the Alaknanda River; 25 km south of Badrinath (vegetarian-restaurants.net accessed 2005.10.06); 166 km from Srinagar (Gharwal), which itself lies 109 km from Rishikesh. NOTE 7: »There are two Hanuman Chattis, this one and another one by Yamunotri. This Hanuman Chatti is 27 km from Badrinath [N30°44': E079°29'] and 9 km from Pandukeswar [N30°39': E079°34']« (vegetarian-restaurants.net accessed 2005.10.06).
Bhamani Dhaur, Baman Dhaur or Bamani Dhaur (note 1) is rather a rock shelter than a cave (unidentified dimensions, unidentified shape, unidentified orientation) and consists of a massive slanting rock with a walled cave entrance and a dry, straw-covered floor (note 2). SITUATION 1982: In the flanks of Bhiundhar or "Valley of Flowers" (note 3), which lies about 4 km or 5 km on foot from Gangria (note 4), which itself is reached by a bridle path (note 5) from Govind Ghat (note 6) in the upper reaches of the Alaknanda River. SWIFT (1982: 186): »… from Gangria is a wide trail that leads up by the Laxman Ganga stream and through a rocky defile into … the valley of Flowers … studied by botanists, who have found hundreds of wildflower varieties. Local legend tells of Bhaman Dhaur, "Bhaman's Cave," where a saint once meditated, sanctifying the vale. The cave is there … Looking toward the rock cave from the trail, you will see a pasture angling steeply upward beyond the rock. If you follow the animal paths 1500 ft. up [450 m], you will reach a shepherd's camp. An additional 1700 ft. [520 m] rise will take you to a col 7000 ft. [2135 m] above Hanuman Chatti [note 7]on the road to Badrinath« (SWIFT 1982). SITUATION 2004: »After entering a gorge, the valley widens and can be seen in its entirety from the east. This place is locally called bamani dhaur ('cave of the Brahmin'). According to legend a Brahmin once lived here, telling visitors their fortunes and drawing their horoscopes (kundali)… This meadow was therefore called Sri Kundalinisen ('meadow of horoscopes'), which is seen as a long meadow on the opposite bank of the Pushpawati River« (himadventures.com/prg5.html accessed 26.12.2004).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 | TIPRA GLACIER CAVE | ||
| 9.9 | VASU DHARA (Cave at the) | ||
| 10.3 | TABOVAN SPRING | ||
| 11.0 | BHIMKUND, Badrinath | ||
| 11.3 | GARUR GUFA | ||
| 11.7 | BHIMPUL, Mana | ||
| 11.8 | Airawat Mahagufa | ||
| 12.2 | VYASA GUFA, Mana | ||
| 12.2 | GANESH GUFA, Mana |