SEVEN VIRGINS (Cave of the)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An approximately large cave entrance leads to a single cave chamber with another two, smaller cave entrances in the far back and opposite across each other (Michael Eckrich 1984 personal communication). ETYMOLOGY: This is a cave called by the intriguing name of 'Cave of the Seven Virgins' (COORAY 1967: 97; CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 244; 1983: 246). SITUATION: About 2.5 km in a direct line south of Norton Bridge (note 1) and again about 2.5 km in a direct line south-east of the Laksapana Falls / Laxapana Falls (note 2), above the south-west (orographically right) bank of the Maskeliya Oya (note 3) and in the Elfindale estate (note 4). Michael Eckrich, München, Zoologisches Institut (1984, pers. comm.) indicated the position of the Cave of the Seven Virgins about 200 or 250 m ESE from the final -E- of the ELFINDALE indicated on a partial photocopy of the Survey of Sri Lanka (a.i. before 1984) sheet -Hatton- (One Inch series). Eckrich, M. (1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map) indicates ave of the Seven Virgins south-west of Powerstation Cave SITUATION 1967: COORAY (1967: 97) mentions from the Norton Bridge area … two other caves (note 5) of which the Cave of the Seven Virgins … can be seen from the road to Maskeliya [note 6] occupying a small cliff face overlooking the valley of the Maskeliya Oya. SITUATION 1974: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 244; 1983: 246) has Beyond the peak (note 7) and in the Norton Bridge area two caves worth exploring. They are vividly described by P. G. Cooray. CAVE LIFE: Bats (Chiroptera) appear to be found in the Cave of the Seven Virgins (Eckrich, M. 1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map).An approximately large cave entrance leads to a single cave chamber with another two, smaller cave entrances in the far back and opposite across each other (Michael Eckrich 1984 personal communication). ETYMOLOGY: This is a cave called by the intriguing name of 'Cave of the Seven Virgins' (COORAY 1967: 97; CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 244; 1983: 246). SITUATION: About 2.5 km in a direct line south of Norton Bridge (note 1) and again about 2.5 km in a direct line south-east of the Laksapana Falls / Laxapana Falls (note 2), above the south-west (orographically right) bank of the Maskeliya Oya (note 3) and in the Elfindale estate (note 4). Michael Eckrich, München, Zoologisches Institut (1984, pers. comm.) indicated the position of the Cave of the Seven Virgins about 200 or 250 m ESE from the final -E- of the ELFINDALE indicated on a partial photocopy of the Survey of Sri Lanka (a.i. before 1984) sheet -Hatton- (One Inch series). Eckrich, M. (1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map) indicates ave of the Seven Virgins south-west of Powerstation Cave SITUATION 1967: COORAY (1967: 97) mentions from the Norton Bridge area … two other caves (note 5) of which the Cave of the Seven Virgins … can be seen from the road to Maskeliya [note 6] occupying a small cliff face overlooking the valley of the Maskeliya Oya. SITUATION 1974: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 244; 1983: 246) has Beyond the peak (note 7) and in the Norton Bridge area two caves worth exploring. They are vividly described by P. G. Cooray. CAVE LIFE: Bats (Chiroptera) appear to be found in the Cave of the Seven Virgins (Eckrich, M. 1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map).