KANGRA NATURAL BRIDGE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A natural bridge, along with a (karst?) spring, which rises from conglomerate and deposits of travertine (calcareous tufa) speleothems, reported PARISH (1849: 367-368) from somewhere near Kangra (N32°06': E076°16'): … numerous springs issue from the ground, and flowing down various fissures, finally reach one of the streams which encircle the fort of Kangra. The bráhmans, who always select spots for their temples in some way or another favored by nature, in order I suppose to increase the sanctity of their idolatrous religion, have chosen one of the springs and endowed its waters with certain efficacious principles. This little brook [no name mentioned], after working its way through several tanks, at last falls into a deep hole, which it has worn away for itself, escaping at last under the archway of a fall of 25 feet [7.6 m]. Entering from below, that place has the appearance of a large cavern with a considerable body of water falling from above. The constant force of the water as washed away the entire roof, leaving the arch standing out by itself some three feet beyond the rest of the conglomerate as a curious monument of the power of water when unremittingly exerted for several ages. On the top is built a paltry little temple with a bridge and staircase leading up to it. There are numerous other temples scattered about, and one is perched on the top of a precipice close by. Between this spot and the other is another deep fissure likewise worn away by a limpid stream. Near to where the water descends is a dripping spring, which oozing through the conglomerate, forms stalactites and encrusts every thing within its reach. There is also a similar spring three miles [about 5 km] on the opposite side of Bhawun. Immediately under the former one is a large block of quartzite crubling away under its destructive influence, ut whilst the rock is yielding to the corrosive power of that spring, a delicate little fern drinking deep of its waters flourishes and grows luuriantly. I believe the latter to be a species of adiantum.