BHIM KE UDAR

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A kind of sheltered camping ground, which initially (14th July 1815) had been interpreted as not even a cave under which shelter might be sought against the weather (FRASER 1820: 424), eventually turned (15th - 16th July 1815) out to be a kind of cave under a large stone (FRASER 1820: 439). ETYMOLOGY: Little doubt remains that Bheem-Ke-Udar (FRASER 1820: 339, 448) or Bheemkeudar (FRASER 1820: 326) means cave (udar, udyar) of (ke) Bheem because Bhim, the strongman of the five Pandava brothers, felt inclined to put exactly this boulder just right there and not anywhere else. SITUATION: At the top of the glen (FRASER 1820: 439) with the source of Coonoo and Bheem streams (FRASER 1820: 326) and in the close vicinity of Jumnotree (FRASER 1820) or Yamunotri (Jamnotri, Yamnotri N31°01': E78°27': 3185 m asl), which lies at a travelling distance (note 1) of little more than ten miles from Cursalee (FRASER 1820: 439) or Kharsali (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION: … a cave under a large stone, [of hich the former is] called Bheem-Ke-Udar; in a dry night it is sufficiently comfortable, but rain would readily beat in. In this cavern, and under a few other large stones around it, there was some shelter, though scanty, for our company, to the number of sixty or more, who were thus forced to accommodate themselves (FRASER 1820: 439). VEGETATION: At this place, indeed, the snow lies for nine months continually, consequently no cultivation can be attempted, but the verdure is sudden and rich [note 3], and affords grazing for many sheep in the absence of the snow (FRASER 1820: 339).A kind of sheltered camping ground, which initially (14th July 1815) had been interpreted as not even a cave under which shelter might be sought against the weather (FRASER 1820: 424), eventually turned (15th - 16th July 1815) out to be a kind of cave under a large stone (FRASER 1820: 439). ETYMOLOGY: Little doubt remains that Bheem-Ke-Udar (FRASER 1820: 339, 448) or Bheemkeudar (FRASER 1820: 326) means cave (udar, udyar) of (ke) Bheem because Bhim, the strongman of the five Pandava brothers, felt inclined to put exactly this boulder just right there and not anywhere else. SITUATION: At the top of the glen (FRASER 1820: 439) with the source of Coonoo and Bheem streams (FRASER 1820: 326) and in the close vicinity of Jumnotree (FRASER 1820) or Yamunotri (Jamnotri, Yamnotri N31°01': E78°27': 3185 m asl), which lies at a travelling distance (note 1) of little more than ten miles from Cursalee (FRASER 1820: 439) or Kharsali (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION: … a cave under a large stone, [of hich the former is] called Bheem-Ke-Udar; in a dry night it is sufficiently comfortable, but rain would readily beat in. In this cavern, and under a few other large stones around it, there was some shelter, though scanty, for our company, to the number of sixty or more, who were thus forced to accommodate themselves (FRASER 1820: 439). VEGETATION: At this place, indeed, the snow lies for nine months continually, consequently no cultivation can be attempted, but the verdure is sudden and rich [note 3], and affords grazing for many sheep in the absence of the snow (FRASER 1820: 339).