PANDAVA CAVE, Karool Tibba
30.933300,77.083300
Description
The »cavesite on the top of a hill surrounded by Quercus forest« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643) is a »cave on Carol Mountain« which had, some 200 years ago (autumn 1818), contained at least one stalactite (Colebrooke, H T (note 1) in: GERARD, A 1821: 152) at altitudes ranging from 1981 m and 2134 m to 2200 m (note 2). ETYMOLOGY -- cave name: Karol Caves cityguides.indiainfo.com (accessed 29.08.2004). ETYMOLOGY -- hill name: Carol mountain Colebrooke, H T in: GERARD, A (1821: 152). Karol Mountains goindiago.com (accessed 2006.06.29). Karol Ranges travelmasti.com (accessed 2006.09.15). Karol Tibba travelmasti.com (accessed 2006.09.15). Karool hill SAIKIA, U et al. (2011: 643). POSITION: Karool Hill 30°56'N: 77°05'E (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1655): 2200 m (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643, 1644). SITUATION: In a direct line approximately 4 km north of Solan (30°55'N: 77°07'E) and 19 km SSW of Shimla / Simla (31°06'N: 077°07'E). SITUATION 2011a: »Karool hill near Solan Town, Solan District (2200 m) … a cavesite on the top of a hill surrounded by Quercus forest near Solan Town« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643). SITUATION 2011b: »… atop a hill at an elevation of 2200 m near Solan Town« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644). SITUATION 2006: »Karol Cave: This cave is situated on the 7000 feet high Karol Mountains, which is clearly visible from Solan. Just 5 kms away from [an unidentified] the city, this is the oldest and longest cave of the Himalayas« (goindiago.com/travel/states/himachal.htm accessed 2006.06.29). SITUATION 2004a: The »Karol Caves« are said to lie »5 km from the town« of Shimla / Simla (note 3). SITUATION 2004b: »This cave is located at an altitude of 7000 feet Karol Mountain [note 4] is clearly visible from Solan [note 5]« (cityguides.indiainfo.com accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 1990: »Summer Hill is 5 km from Shimla, on the Shimla - Kalka railay line, and has pleasant, shady walks« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 190; 1993: 253; 1997: 261; 2001: 235; 2003: 232; 2005: 253; 2009: 338; 2011: 284; LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 285). SITUATION 1832: Among »the heights above the sea at which primitive rock-formations have been noticed« on the Indian subcontinent is »a cavern [no name mentioned] in primitive limestone near the Sutledge [Sutlej] at 6500 feet« (MURRAY, H et al. 1832, 3: 207). SITUATION 1818: »Near the top of Carol mountain, and about 6500 feet [1980 m] above the level of the sea« (Colebrooke, H T in: GERARD, A 1821: 152). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004: The »Karol Caves« (cityguides.indiainfo.com accessed 29.08.2004) are »known as Himalaya's most ancient and longest cave [note 6]. It reaches Pinjor Gardens« (note 7). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2006: »Karol Ranges (Karol Tibba): The highest in the region, houses a historic Krishana temple at the inception of a cave which was supposedly dug by Pandavas during exile [note 8]. How deep the cave runs is just a guess. The folk lore says that this cave ultimately emerges at the Pinjore near the historic Mugal gardens. For a fit man a stiff uphill trek and back would take about one full day to visit this place« (travelmasti.com/the-destination-kandaghat.htm accessed 2006.09.15). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2011: On the one-hand side »a cavesite on top of … Karool hill near Solan Town, Solan District, (2200 m)« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643) or »a cave atop a hill at an elevation of 2200 m near Solan Town« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644) but on the other »a short and narrow cave in a hilltop (2200 m)« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644). CAVE LIFE -- Chiroptera: Hipposideridae: Hipposideros armiger (Hodgson, 1835), the Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed Bat: »A single specimen was collected from a cavesite on the top of a hill surrounded by Quercus forest near Solan Town. The cave had about ten individuals of this species and was shared by another two species viz. Myotis mystacinus and M. blythii. … The lone specimen collected had long, smooth and overall dark brown fur on the back with a comparatively paler belly« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643). Vespertillionidae: Myotis mystacinus (Kuhl, 1819), Whiskered Bat: »Another population of about 50 individuals of this bat was observed in a cave atop a hill at an elevation of 2200 m near Solan Town« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644). Vespertillionidae: Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857), Lesser Mouse-eared bat: »A colony of approximately 100 individuals of this species was observed in a short and narrow cave in a hilltop (2200 m), which it shared with H. armiger and M. mystacinus. It was seen hanging from the roof of the cave, mixing frequently with M. mystacinus. Interestingly, it maintained quite a distance from individuals of H. armiger. M. blythii was observed crawling on the roof of the cave using its feet and first digit to change position. Amongst the three species inhabiting the cave, this species emerges from the cave the latest and only after darkness has fallen fully. Pelage of the collected specimens was somewhat woolly in texture and beige brown dorsally« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644).
NOTE 1: »Valley of the Sutleig. Geological Society, Dec. 1.- A paper "on the valley of the Sutleig river, in the Himalaya mountains," by H. T. [Henry Thomas] Colebrooke, Esqu., V.P.G.S., was read. In a journey undertaken in the autum of 1818, by Lieut. A. [Alexander] Gerard, accompanied by his brother [James Gilbert Gerard], for the purpose of approximating towards the extreme height of Mánabarower [Masasarowar], by barometrical measurement of the bed of the Sutleig [Sutlej River], a variety of specimens illustrative of the geological structure of the lower and middle valleys were collected … Among the specimens is a stalactite from the roof of a cave, near the top of the Carol mountain, and about 6,500 feet [1981 m] above the level of the sea« (GERARD, A 1821: 152).GERARD, A (1842) does not mention the stalactite. NOTE 2: Karool Tibba (Carol Mountain, Karol Hill) is said to rise to a height of [1981 m] 6500 ft Colebrooke, H T in: GERARD, A (1821: 152); MURRAY, H et al. (1832, 3: 207). 2180 m [7152 ft] India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 6 A4). [2253 m] 7393 ft AMS sheet NH43-08 Ambala, U502 series, 1959 edition. 2200 m [7218 ft] SAIKIA, U et al. (2011: 1643). NOTE 3: Shimla (Simla), town near 31°06'N: 77°07'E is reputed to lie at an elevation of 2130 m LONELY PLANET, India (1990: 188; 1993: 251); cityguides.indiainfo.com (accessed 29.08.2004) 2205 m LONELY PLANET, India (2001: 232; 2003: 229; 2005: 253; 2009: 334); LONELY PLANET, North India (2001: 281). NOTE 4: Literally quoted: »Karol Tibba … has historic value as pandavas lived here during their agyatvas period 2 hours trek from the resort takes you to this wonderful place and ideal visit for nature lovers. Toy Train Ride Just enjoy this ride with children go to shimla and come back an memory to cherish for the rest of your life« (cityguides.indiainfo.com/shimla accessed 29.08.2004). NOTE 5: Solan 30°55'N: 77°07'E (AMS sheet NH43-08) lies about 20 km in a direct line and 31 km long the National Highway NH22 due south of Shimla (Shimla). NOTE 6: Even a greatest cave investigation will instantly reveal once and for ever that this cave is not only the most Himalayest and ancientest but also the most cavest. NOTE 7: Pinjor (cityguides.indiainfo.com accessed 29.08.2004) or Pinjaur (30°47'50”N: 76°55'02”E) and Pinjore, 20 km along the road from Chandigarh (30°44'14”N: 76°47'14”E) or »Five km south-west of Kalka [30°50'04”N: 76°56'00”E], on the Chandigarh road, are the attractive Yadaindra Gardens in Pinjore« (LONELY PLANET, India 1996: 275). The fabulous tunnel would cover a distance of about 22 km in a direct line southwest and may lead, but this is mere guesswork, to the –>Bhimkund at Pinjaur. NOTE 8: The Pandavas (Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva) are not only the five sons of king Pandu and the five nephews of the blind king Dhritarashtras (father of the Kauravas) but also the "good" in the Mahabharata, the Hindu epic focussing on the exploits of Krishna and describing the battle of Kurukshethra between the Pandavas and Kauravas. The Mahabharata is thought to have been composed some time around the 1st millennium BC (before current). By about 400 BC the Mahabharata had evolved into a far more complex creation, with substantial narrative and instructive additions, of which the most important and famous is the Bhagavadgita (in short: Gita), probably dating to the 4th or 3rd century BC, where Krishna gives advise to Arjuna before a great battle). The story centers on conflict between the good Pandavas (heroic gods exiled to forest and sheltered in caves) and the bad Kauravas (demons), the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra. Overseeing events is Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu), who has taken on human form. Krishna acts as charioteer for Arjuna, the Pandava's military expert for long-range missile tactics (bow and arrows), who eventually triumphs in the great battle with the Kauravas.
Documents
Bibliography 24/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1818 autumn: Alexander Gerard and his bother James Gilbert Gerard collected a stalactite from near the top of Carol Mountain (Karol Tibba). 2004.09.18: One or several female or male specimen of "batman" (chiropterologist) collected not only a solitary male specimen of the Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros armiger Hodgson 1835) but also noticed about 50 individuals of the Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus Kuhl 1819) and a colony of approximately 100 individuals of Lesser Mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii Tomes 1857) at »a cavesite on the top of a hill near Solan town, Solan District (2200 m)« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1643) or »in a cave atop a hill at an elevation of 2200 m near Solan Town« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644) and »short and narrow cave in a hilltop (2200 m)« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1644).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | BREWERY TUNNEL | ||
| 5.6 | BAROG TUNNEL | ||
| 5.6 | SOLAN, Happy Valley (Cave near) | ||
| 5.8 | PANCHMUNDA CAVE | ||
| 6.5 | CHOOR DHAR APERTURE | ||
| 14.5 | GAMBHAR BRIDGE (Cave near) | ||
| 18.8 | ALADDIN'S CAVE, Shimla | ||
| 18.8 | CAVE, Hotel Lord's Grey (The) | ||
| 18.8 | SIMLA (Sleen 1929) (Caverns near) |