GUKUNG (Troglodyte settlement of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A man-made troglodyte settlement, to a certain extent still inhabited (note 1), is situated on the right bank of Karnali river (Map Chu), near Purang town (in Chinese: Pulan, Nepali: Taklakot), and at a distance of 105 km from Barkha / Barga. The cluster of man-made, rock-cut chambers (note 2) is somewhat smaller than –>Khyunglung. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1906: As we returned to Taklakot we could not help being struck by … the extremely quaint dwellings built in the rocks and caves of the cliff, which, being painted white, are visible from a considerable distance (SHERRING 1906: 207-208) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1949: A part of the population of Purang lives also in caves dug into the conglomerate walls of hills which are made into regular houses by construction of walls and gates in the front side. Some of the caves are even two or three-storyed high. Such houses are found … in Gukug near Taklakot. …a typical cave village, situated on the right bank of the Map chu or Karnali, about half a mile [800m] from Taklakot Mandi. In a three-storexed cave-dwelling there is also gompa (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 52, 101, 121, 230, illustration 51) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1993: The photo facing page 12 shows caves dug from conglomerate cliffs in the background of Purang town. The town map on page 32 indicates the cave site in the back of Humla Bazar and the text explains: In the hills along the trail [from Darchula Bazar back to town centre] there are caves, one housing the Gokung Gompa, and others which have been equipped with doors and windows and are quite substantial dwellings. On the hill to the north-west of Taklakot is a huge [Chinese]army base, said to extend far into the mountain in a series of caves (ARMINGTON 1993) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1994: Situated a walking distance of 17 km from Lipulekh pass the first Tibetan village is Taklakot, where there is a number of … caves in the area which can provide shelter to pilgrims and trekkers (SHARMA 1994: 119-120).m] from Taklakot Mandi. In a three-storexed cave-dwelling there is also gompa (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 52, 101, 121, 230, illustration 51) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1993: The photo facing page 12 shows caves dug from conglomerate cliffs in the background of Purang town. The town map on page 32 indicates the cave site in the back of Humla Bazar and the text explains: In the hills along the trail [from Darchula Bazar back to town centre] there are caves, one housing the Gokung Gompa, and others which have been equipped with doors and windows and are quite substantial dwellings. On the hill to the north-west of Taklakot is a huge [Chinese]army base, said to extend far into the mountain in a series of caves (ARMINGTON 1993) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1994: Situated a walking distance of 17 km from Lipulekh pass the first Tibetan village is Taklakot, where there is a number of … caves in the area which can provide shelter to pilgrims and trekkers (SHARMA 1994: 119-120).