SHIVA, Abu Road - Sirohi Road (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unexplored, alledgedly natural and most likely modified sacred cave –no specific name is known– in the back of a temple (in Hindi: mandir) dedicated to Shiva, perhaps as Mahadeo, Shankar, Lingeshwara, Gupteshwar, or the like. SITUATION: Near kilometre 20 on the road from Abu Road (note 1) to Sirohi Road rises on the right-hand side (east) a prominent isolated hillock (note 2) to a height of estimated 40 or 50 m from the surrounding plain. The quite circular hill is characterised by a surrounding scree slope which is topped by a succession of horizontal rock strata with deeply fluted and whitish coloured surfaces (crystalline limestone / marble). A flight of steps ascends to a cliff near the top of the hillock and terminates in front of a small whitewashed temple facing the road.An unexplored, alledgedly natural and most likely modified sacred cave –no specific name is known– in the back of a temple (in Hindi: mandir) dedicated to Shiva, perhaps as Mahadeo, Shankar, Lingeshwara, Gupteshwar, or the like. SITUATION: Near kilometre 20 on the road from Abu Road (note 1) to Sirohi Road rises on the right-hand side (east) a prominent isolated hillock (note 2) to a height of estimated 40 or 50 m from the surrounding plain. The quite circular hill is characterised by a surrounding scree slope which is topped by a succession of horizontal rock strata with deeply fluted and whitish coloured surfaces (crystalline limestone / marble). A flight of steps ascends to a cliff near the top of the hillock and terminates in front of a small whitewashed temple facing the road.