BANKE SIDH CAVE & SPRING

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A complex group of modified troglodyte rock shelters are indicated as Banke Sidh Cave + Spring (note 1) on the Survey of India sheet 63-C/16 (1977 edition). The partly white-washed and walled-off rock shelters (some 15 to 25 m wide and, on average, 2 m high) face north-north-east, occur at two distinct levels under sandstone ledges which protrude up to 7 m. SITUATION: About 5 km in a direct line south-south-east of Karwi (note 2) and on the north-western edge of the Sidhpur Protected Forest. To reach the site, take the Karwi- Sidhpur road (note 3) and proceed along a bullock cart track (initially some 800 m towards south-west, later due south) for about 1.5 km to where a steep flight of sandstone steps ascends in a direct line to the site. From here, the steps continue (fresh concrete in March 2003, too high to be comfortable) in a winding way uphill and past the rock shelter till they eventually level out at the edge of an unexpected and what looked in March 2003 like a secret or hal finished airfield. finished airfield.