LABUR KUVA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 05/04/2016

A both functioning and functional stepwell without any artistic decorations, which is speleologically relevant insofar, as it exposes walls of karstified miliolitic limestone, exposes a few natural conduits up to the size of a fist. SITUATION: In an oasis like plantation 3 km in a direct line north (004°) of the Gujarat STC (State Transport Corporation) bus stand at Mangrol (N21°07'16": E070°07'14", GPS ±13 m). DESCRIPTION: A 35 m deep, vertical shaft and a lateral, straight staircase descend to a depth of -17 m. Both shaft and staircase were of the same depth at the time of original construction when the water was still fetched by hand, or rather: by women. Since then, the water table has sunken and pumps were introduced. On 6th December 1998 the water level stood at about minus 2.5 m below the last step.CAVE LIFE: The staircase was inhabited by pigeons and other nesting birds.