TSHOSHER (Troglodyte settlement of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The well-known and well recorded cluster of man-made rock-cut chambers, which have been excavated from conglomerates at Tshosher (note 1), still serve as a troglodyte settlement (note 2) complete with cult spot (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1910: The cave settlement at Tshosher is possibly the –>Nebuk of HEDIN (1909-1912 reproduced 1991, ii: 81). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1992: To the north-east was Chhosyer, with a hillside dotted with caves that were inhabited by people, and rocks and river on the land that used to serve as fields (THAPA 1992: 82). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1993: … these caves are hidden and only if you are able to climb about 2 m above the trail you can discern an entrance to the caves on the opposite side of the cliff. When you climb up to the entrance with some difficulty because of the debris left by landslides, you will find a stone staircase. That takes you through a corridor and ramps to the cells, each about one square metre in size, with small square holes for windows. The cavecluster is four storied with 15, 25 and 9 cells in the first, second and third floors respectively. The ground floor with a number of deep holes serves as kitchen, store as well as toilet (CHHETRI 1993). CULTURAL HISTORY: On his way to Purang (Manasarovar, Kailash) Milarepa travelled by way of glo bo (Mustang region) where he stayed for a few days in glo bo mts'o (Lake Mustang). There is no lake in this area, which in the same context is stated to be in glo bo stod - upper Lobo. It is the area of Tsoshar. There is a string of villages in this valley, to the east of Mustang, with many ruins as remains of the past (AUFSCHNAITER 1976: 188).The well-known and well recorded cluster of man-made rock-cut chambers, which have been excavated from conglomerates at Tshosher (note 1), still serve as a troglodyte settlement (note 2) complete with cult spot (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1910: The cave settlement at Tshosher is possibly the –>Nebuk of HEDIN (1909-1912 reproduced 1991, ii: 81). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1992: To the north-east was Chhosyer, with a hillside dotted with caves that were inhabited by people, and rocks and river on the land that used to serve as fields (THAPA 1992: 82). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1993: … these caves are hidden and only if you are able to climb about 2 m above the trail you can discern an entrance to the caves on the opposite side of the cliff. When you climb up to the entrance with some difficulty because of the debris left by landslides, you will find a stone staircase. That takes you through a corridor and ramps to the cells, each about one square metre in size, with small square holes for windows. The cavecluster is four storied with 15, 25 and 9 cells in the first, second and third floors respectively. The ground floor with a number of deep holes serves as kitchen, store as well as toilet (CHHETRI 1993). CULTURAL HISTORY: On his way to Purang (Manasarovar, Kailash) Milarepa travelled by way of glo bo (Mustang region) where he stayed for a few days in glo bo mts'o (Lake Mustang). There is no lake in this area, which in the same context is stated to be in glo bo stod - upper Lobo. It is the area of Tsoshar. There is a string of villages in this valley, to the east of Mustang, with many ruins as remains of the past (AUFSCHNAITER 1976: 188).