CHHIRCHI / CHIRCHIN (Caves at)
30.566700,80.216700
Description
Unspecified »caves« (rock shelters?) noticed PRANAVANANDA (1949: 150 note 1) on the way »between Chhirchi [note 1]and Sumnag [unidentified] both in the bed of the river and on the mountains on either bank, fossils, thaneri stone, zaharmora, calcite in crystalline form, and trisulphide of arsenic are found. From Chhirchin [sic! aut Chirchi?] one road [route] goes to Sibchilim« or »Shib Chilim« (N30°53': E080°18') on the Shib Chhu. ETYMOLOGY: "Chir" is the name for »a timber tree, Pinus longifolia« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 25: viii). SITUATION: Some 10 km short of reaching the Survey of India border line (1949) separating Uttaranchal from Nari (Ngari) province in Tibet and just beyond the triple pass Unta Dhura (note 2), Jayannti Dhura / Janti Dhura (note 3), and Kungri Bingri (note 4) on the route from Almora (N29°37': E079°40': 1650 m asl) via Munsiyari (note 5), Milam (N30°26': E080°09') and Unta Dhura Pass to Mt. Kailash (Kannriboqê Feng).
NOTE 1: »Chhirchi« or »Chhirchin« (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 150) is not identified unless it is -- but this seems not very likely -- the same as the »Jim« indicated near N30° E080°13' on AMS sheet NH44-06 Nanda Devi (U502 series, 1958 edition). NOTE 2: Unta Dhura (Anta Dhura Pass, Kyunam La) N30°35': E080°11' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003): 5475 m asl (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 150). NOTE 3: »Janti Dhura« (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 150) is indicated as »Jandi Dhura« N30°35': E080°11' on AMS sheet NH44-06 Nanda Devi (U502 series, 1958 edition).NOTE 4: »Kung Bingri« (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 150), Kungribingri Pass (N30°37': E080°14'). NOTE 5: »Munsyari« (LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 524) is »spectacularly located« and »accessible by bus from Almora or Pithoragarh« at 2135 m asl (kmvn.org/images/kumaon-map-big.gif accessed 2005.10.06) or at 2290 m asl (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 438) corresponds to »Rathi / Mansiyari« (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 150), »Munsiari« (TILMANN 1937: 223), and »Munsyandi (ou Munsiyari)« (DUCLUZAUX, B 1993d: 44). »Munsyari« (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 12 D2) is indicated as »Ranthi« near N30°02': E080°08' on AMS sheet NH44-06 Nanda Devi (U502 series, 1958 edition) in the Gori Ganga (Goriganga River) and lies about 20 km along the road from Tejam (Tajam N29°57': E080°11') north-east via Girgaon and at travelling distances of 155 km from Pithoragarh (N29°35': E080°13': 1815 m), 200 km from Almora (N29°37': E079°40'), 262 km from Nainital / Naini Tal (N29°23': E079°27': 1940 m asl), and 280 km from Kathgodam (N29°16': E079°32').
Documents
Bibliography 25/03/2016- Pranavananda, Swami [alias: Somayajulu, Kanakadandi Venkata] 1949, 1983.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6 | LATUVA CAVES | ||
| 7.3 | DHUNGA (Caves at) | ||
| 14.9 | MILAM GLACIER CAVE | ||
| 21.6 | BURFU GLACIER CAVE | ||
| 28.5 | RALAM GLACIER CAVE | ||
| 28.9 | NARSAN PATTI ROCKSHELTER | ||
| 29.7 | MONAL (Cave on Mount) | ||
| 38.7 | KHYUNG LUNG (Troglodyte settlement of) | ||
| 38.7 | KHYUNGLUNG CAVE |