SHIKAR A1 (Grotte de)
30.000000,80.200000
Description
An impenetrable insurgence (sink, sinkhole) in limestone is hydrologically fed by altogether five subsidence cave entrances to a subsoil conduit (sketch plan and elevation in DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 41) which undermines (piping processes) an approximately 3 m to 5 m thick cover of "terre" (soil, earth, dirt) on a limestone surface dipping by about 30° or 35° to approximately 215° (about 3:1 south-west). The garland of soil-collapse cave entrances is connected underground by a truly "subterranean" or under-soil channel (length: circa 60 m; vertical range: circa 15 or 20 vertical metres) which leads to the head of the sink in limestone. SITUATION (note 1): At an elevation of 2245 m asl (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 39, 41) in a gully on the western flank (note 2) of Majika Danda (also: Majikadanda, in short Jika Danda, "the honoured / venerated mother's / goddess' hill"), the funny »Montagne de Shikar« of Bruno Ducluzaux (note 3). Majika Danda culminates at 2716 m asl (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 38) above the east bank of the river Sarju or »Saryu« (DUCLUZAUX passim), and south-west of »Bherari« (DUCLUZAUX passim), »Bharari« (Scherzer, Uwe 1991.08.18 Mss), or Bhairari N30°02': E080°09' (AMS sheet NH44-06), a small town reached from Almora (N29°37': E079°40': 1650 m asl, 3 hours by bus) or Nainital / Naini Tal (N29°23': E079°27': 1940 m asl) via Bageshwar (N29°51': E079°46': 975 m asl), the pleasant pilgrimage town at the confluence of the Gomti and Sarju rivers.
NOTE 1: DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 38) provides a »Croquis de situation des canites de la Montagne de Shikar« or much generalised sketch map without scale, which shows the distribution of cave entrances west of the peak and ridge of Majika Danda. NOTE 2: DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 39 / chapter 2.4.3) places the whole lot of his "A" caves »au sud-est de la montagne« (south-east of the mountain) but his cave distribution map (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 38) surprises with showing them on the south-west flank. NOTE 3: The Hindi noun "shikhar" is the word for a hunt, shooting, or chase and I can imagine the local informant's baffled poker face reflecting the sinful and illegal but estemed honour of not admitting to have, of course, enjoyed a little poaching on Holy Mom's hill.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A2 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A3 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A4 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A5 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A6 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A7 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A8 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A9 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR CAVE, Bharari |