PONR KA DATA SHELTERS
24.583300,79.650000
Description
Two rock shelters containg rock art reports MATHUR (1953: 96-97) as one of two »clusters of shelters« (compare Putli ka Data, the Putri ka Dota of GOSH 1956: 69) from a situation (note 1) about »half a mile« (ca. 800 m or so) apart on the northern face of a Lower Vindhyan (Semri group) Sandstone outcropping on the summit of a 500 m high hill (note 2) that lies at an unspecified distance south-east of one Deora village (note 3) in the Bijawar area of Chhatarpur district (note 4) in »Vindhya Pradesh« (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION (MATHUR 1953: 96-97): »The shelters are formed mainly of rock ledges with overhanging roofs. There are some cave-like shelters also, but they are not deep [not extensive?].« CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: The mostly red and ocassionally white paintings depict humans in action, dear, bullocks, horses or mules, dogs (?), a fish and a bird.
NOTE 1: There are several shelters in the area, but paintings have been found in only six of them. Four of the painted shelters lie in the western group which is locally called Ponr-ka-Data (the Ponr-ka-Dota of GHOSH 1956: 69) and the other, the eastern group of two rock shelters –>Putli-ka-Data (the Putri-ka-Dota of GHOSH 1956: 69). NOTE 2: Neither MATHUR (1953) nor GOSH (1956) risk caring to mention the name of this hill. The Survey of India sheet 54-P/10 (1: 50,00 series) shows south-east of Deora (Bijawar) one Muhar Pahar at N24° 34'30': E079°40'30": 529 m asl and a Changwa Pahar at N24° 33'45': E079°38'15": 489 m asl. NOTE 3: Deora N24° 35'15': E079°39'00": 337 m asl (Survey of India sheet 54-P/10, 1: 50,000 series) in Bijawar tahsil, Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh (formerly Vindhya Pradesh). NOTE 4: GOSH (1956: 69) placed the »Ponr-ka-Dota« (sic!) shelters near a Deora in Sagar district. NOTE 5: SINGH (1971 edited 1995: 624): »… since the [Baghelkhand] region came under British power, it remained both under them directly and also as a congeries of petty states of varying dimensions. Baraundha, Nagod, Maihar, Sohawal, Kothi, Jago, Paldeo, Pahra, Taraon, Bhaisaunda and Kenta Majanla were eleven other states with Rewa as the largest (33,670 km2) in Baghelkhand. These states formed part of the Central India Agency; after independence they were mostly consolidated into Vindhya Pradesh and finally into Madhya Pradesh after 1956.«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | PUTLI KA DATA SHELTERS | ||
| 10.1 | JATASHANKAR, Bijawar | ||
| 13.1 | BIJAWAR CAVE DWELLING (aa -) | ||
| 25.3 | KUWA PAHAR, Bijawar | ||
| 30.9 | BHARWANI CAVE | ||
| 31.2 | RANIKHERA CAVE 1 | ||
| 31.2 | RANIKHERA CAVE 2 | ||
| 31.2 | RANIKHERA CAVE 3 | ||
| 31.2 | PUKHARIA CAVE |