FARABAGH CAVERN SPRING
17.900000,77.550000
Description
»In the laterite cliffs of Beder [Bidar], a narrow winding cavern, about sixty yards in length, forms the outlet of the fine spring of the Farabagh« (NEWBOLD, T J 1846f: 234). Captain Thomas John Newbold, the explorer, commenced to draw the worldwide attention of tree watchers and timber merchants already in the year 1844 to a »picturesque banyan tree in front of the cavern spring in the Farabagh« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 989-995), which flourished on the up to »200 feet« (60 m) thick »Laterite bed of Beder« or Bidar (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: »Farabagh« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 990; 1846f: 234), from "farah" (Urdu), pleasure + "bagh" or garden, the Zafarabagh of emperor Aurangzeb, who took Bidar in the year 1624 and changed its name to Zafarabad (Zafara Town). SETTING: »It seems probable that among other causes of the sterility for which lateritic soils have been abused [note 2] may be ranked that the porous character of the laterite when it forms the substratum which carries off the water, particularly from the loose siliceous varieties of the soil, before it has had time to fertilize the surface. In the more clayey kinds of soil the water is longer retained. In the immediate vicinity of Beder the soil does not lie thick, and the trees have a stunted appearance, particularly the mango trees that shade most of the Mausolea and Tombs in the precincts. Whenever there is sufficient depth of soil and apability of retention of moisture, its chemical nature is clear l certainly not against arboreous vegetation [note 3] as the picturesque banyan tree, in front of the cavern spring in the Farabagh can testify« (NEWBOLD, T J 1844b: 989-990). CLIMATE: »The annual rainfall averages about 37 inches [9400 mm]« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 8: 164). VOYSEY, H V (1850b: 273) measured a water temperature of 78°F (25.6°C) in a »40 cubits« (18.3 m) deep well excavated from »the iron clay [note 4] of the range of which and on which Beder is built.« VOYSEY, H V (1850b: 275) measured in two neighbouring springs somewhere »on the N. W. side of Beder« water temperaratures of 76° (24.4°C) and 73° (22.8°C).
NOTE 1: Bidar (N17°54': E077°33') on the main Mumbai - Chennai railway line is not only accessible by a few daily busses from Bangalore (12°59'N: 77°35'E), 12 hrs, but also by frequent daily busses from Gulbarga (17°20'N: 76°50'E), 3hrs, and Hyderabad (17°22'31”N: 78°28'28”E), 4 hrs. NOTE 2: »Tuesday, 29th March, 1819 … on our road to Shelapilly four zones of the black cotton soil intersected our path running due north and south; the difference was strongly marked. The iron clay soil was almost incapable of cultivation, and the other presenting its usual appearance of fertility« (VOYSEY 1850b: 275). NOTE 3: SiO2-accumulating plants can turn almost a foot (25 cm) of basaltic soil within 5000 years into laterite (LOVERING in Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, June 1959, pp 781-800). NOTE 4: Dr. Henry Westley observed at Bidar (N17°54': E077°33') that »this is the greatest elevation of the iron clay that I have seen in India, the barometer indicating 2000 feet [610 m] above the level of the sea. In some places, particularly in those excavations near the fort, it resembles very much the iroon clay of Nellore [N14°26': E079°58' in Andhra Pradesh] containing in its vesicles Lithomarge, and the wells are generally very deep, one measured 40 cubits [18.3 m]. The temperature of the water was 78°« (Fahrenheit! = 25.6°C).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | BIDAR TUNNELS | ||
| 0.0 | NARASIMHA, Bidar (Cave of) | ||
| 0.0 | NAUBAD TUNNEL | ||
| 0.0 | CHILLERJEE CAVITIES, Chillargi | ||
| 2.6 | HAZAR KOTHRI | ||
| 205.9 | PAPAMMAGUTTA, Chintagudem (Cave on) | ||
| 219.5 | PANDU LENA, Edlabad | ||
| 251.4 | GANGAPUR CAVES | ||
| 258.4 | KAVI BHIMPUR |