DRET GANG
27.300000,88.250000
Description
A cave entrance shaped like a gorilla's mouth gives access to an exit cave by which the souls of the Lig-som-mo clan of Lepchas enter and exit by a fabulous underground tunnel the hither world on their way from the »Rum-lyang« or »Place of Gods« on Mt. Kanchenjunga (note 1) beginning near the village of Rabdentsi / Rabdentse (note 2). SITUATION 1951: At Rabdentsi (NEBESKY WOJKOWITZ 1951: 36). SITUATION 1953: »Just below the Mendong of Gye-Zhing below Rabdentsi« (note 3) (ROCK 1953: 945). SITUATION 1957: Near Rabdentsi (note 4) (HUMMEL 1957). SITUATION 2005: »Just below Pemayangtse [N27°18': E088°15'] are the ruins of Rabdentse (admission free, sunrise to sunset), which was the capital of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. The site has been excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India and its still an atmospheric spot, despite some slightly overzealous restoration work« (LONELY PLANET 2005: 532). CULTURAL HISTORY - exit cave: »According to the old Lepcha belief … the place from which the soul [Muk nyam] comes and to which it again returns after a man's death, is called Rum lyang, the place of gods. It is believed, that this place lies somewhere in the hills, close to Mount Kanchenjunga. […] The Chronicles of the Maharajas of Sikkim mention … A different cave is called Dret gang and it lies near the hamlet of Rabdentsi« (NEBESKY WOJKOWITZ 1951: 23, 35-36). »The Lig-som-mo Lepchas … believe that their spirits enter a subterranean passage [connecting to Mt. Kanchenjunga] at a cave called Dret-gang which has the shape of a gorilla's mouth, and is situated just below the Mendong of Gye-Zhing below Rabdentsi« (ROCK 1953: 945).
NOTE 1: The fabulous tunnel connecting the cave Dret Gang (N27°18': E088°15': circa 1200 m asl) with the top of Mt. Kanchenjunga (N27°42': E088°08': 8598 m asl) spans a linear distance of about 46 km NNW and a vertical range of about 7400 m. NOTE 2: »Rabdentsi« (HUMMEL1957; NEBESKY WOJKOWITZ 1951; ROCK1953) or »Rabdentse« (LONELY PLANET 2005: 532). NOTE 3: ROCK (1953: 945) mentions one »Mendong of Gye-Zhing« in connection with the cave called Dret Gang but one »Mengsher mendong of Lingmo« in connection with the cave called –>Phim Leb. »Gye-Zhing« (ROCK 1953: 946) or Keozing, Kewzing, Kyosing, Soshing, Sosing N27°17': E088°19' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) lies in Sikkim West district. NOTE 4: »Für die Beziehung der … Höhlen Sikhims zu den Bergen des Landes bringt die … sogenannte Mun-Religion der Lepcha in Sikhim eindeutige Beweise. Danach kommen die Seelen der Menschen von Rum-lyang, dem Ort der Götter auf den Bergen, durch eine Höhle zur Erde, durch die sie wieder beim Tode zurückkehren (NEBESKY WOJKOWITZ 1951: 23ff, 1956: 143). Die Lokalisierung von Rum-lyang und entsprechend auch die der Höhlen variiert bei den verschiedenen Clans. Die meisten wähnen den Göttersitz auf den Gangs-chen-mdzod (mched)-lnga (Kangchenjunga), wobei jedoch die Ansicht über den Höhlenzugang verschieden ist. Bei den … Lingsom-mo [ist es] die Höhle Dret-gang bei Rabdentsi« (HUMMEL 1957: 628-629).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | TSE CHU PHUG | ||
| 4.9 | TSE CHU PHUG 2 | ||
| 7.6 | KAHDO SANG PHUG | ||
| 8.2 | NARBUGANG | ||
| 8.2 | KYONGDEY | ||
| 8.2 | CHE CHO PHUG | ||
| 9.0 | ZOOM ROCK GARDEN CAVE | ||
| 9.5 | DUPHUG | ||
| 9.8 | YOUKHUMNEY CAVE |