GERSOPPA
14.250000,74.750000
Description
BROSSET, A (1962a: 189) mentions »Gersoppa« as an unspecified bat collecting site (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: Gersoppa, »the cashew-nut« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 12: 211), botanically Anacardiaceae: Anacardium occidentale (note 2). »The Gersoppa Falls … are locally known as the Jog Falls, from the neighbouring village of Jog« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 12: 210-211). SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere in the vicinity of one or the other »Gersoppa« (BROSSET, A 1962a: 189) near N14°15': E74°39' Gersoppa, the populated place N14°16': E74°25' Gersoppa, a stream of water N14°14': E74°50' Gersoppa Falls / Jog Falls (note 3) . GERSOPPA / JOG 1997: »The Shiravati River drops 235 m at Jog Falls in four separate waterfalls known as the Rani, the Rocket, the Raja and the Roarer. The falls are the highest in India and are located approximately 50 km from the coast, midway between Udipi [N13°21': E074°45'] and Karwar [N14°48': E074°08'] … You can hike to the bottom of the falls by following the steps that close to the bus stand … Because the falls are so arduous to get to it's not worth a special journey unless you intent to hang around for a day or two … The only problem with doing this is the current shortage of accommodation -- try to plan in advance« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 952). GERSOPPA / JOG 1908: »The Gersoppa Falls are situated in 14° 14' N. and 74° 49' E., on the Bombay-Mysore frontier [note 4], about 18 miles [29 km] east of Gersoppa, and 35 miles [56 km] east of Honavar [note 5] … The waterfall is on the Sharavati rier, which, with a breadth of above the falls of about 230 feet [70 m], hurls itself over a cliff 830 feet [253 m] high, in four separate cascades, known as the Raja (or Horseshoe) Fall, the Roarer, the Rocket, and La Dame Blanche. The best time to see the falls is in early December, when the river is low enough to make it possible to cross to the left [south] or Mysore [Shimoga] bank. Between June and November, when the river is flooded, the banks are shrouded in clouds of mist. … The rock of the river-bed and the cliff over which the river falls are gneiss associated with hypogene gneiss …« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 12: 210-211). »Gersoppa village … situated in 14° 14' N. and 74° 39' E., on the Sharavati [note 6], about 18 miles [29 km] east of Honavar and a similar distance from the falls known by this name. The village is pleasantly situated on the left [south] bank of the river, shaded by a grove of coco-nuts. About a mile and a half east of Gersoppa are the extensive ruins of Nagarbastikere … the chief object of interest is a cross-shaped Jain temple … There are five other ruinous temples …« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 12: 211-212). GERSOPPA / JOG 1882: »… the Shiravati … divides into several channels, and forms the famous Falls of Gersoppa, 35 m. above Honawar« (SMITH, G 1882: 284).CAVE LIFE: BROSSET, A (1962a: 189) recorded from »Gersoppa« a colony of bats (Chiroptera), namely Hipposideros lankadiva Shortridge & Wroughton.
NOTE 1: Captain T. J. NEWBOLD, T J (1845b), a keen observer and cave explorer, describes both the village of »Gairsuppa« (sic!) and the waterfall but does not mention any cave. NOTE 2: Cashew nut, an edible kidney-shaped nut growing on the cashew tree, a bushy tropical American tree related to the mango, and bearing cashew nuts singly at the tip of each swollen fruit.. Oil is extracted from the shells and used as a lubricant and insecticide and in the production of plastics. Also called "acajou", origin (late 16th century) from Portuguese, from Tupi acajú, cajú (OXFORD DICTIONARY 2005). NOTE 3: Jog Falls N14°14': E074°50' nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) Gersoppa Falls N14°14': E074°50' nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 4: What was the »Bombay-Mysore frontier« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 12: 210) is currently in Karnataka State the border between the districts of Uttar Kannada and Shimoga (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 106: A5 B5). NOTE 5: Honavar N14°17': E074°27' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 6: So far, I saw the name of the river Sharavati referred to by various names (in cases denoting distinct stretches on it's course) Gersoppa Honawar Sharasvati Sharaswathi Sharavati IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 12: 211; 14: 341); India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 106 A5) Sharawathi Shiravati SMITH, G (1882: 284); LONELY PLANET, India (1997: 952)Shirawati Swarna Nadi Swarua Nadi. NOTE 7: No idea.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42.3 | MOHINI SHIKARA SHELTER, Yana | ||
| 42.4 | MOHINI SHIKARA, Yana (Cave at) | ||
| 42.6 | CHANDIKA GUWA, Yana | ||
| 42.6 | SHIVA, Yana (Cave of) | ||
| 42.7 | BHAIRAVESHWARA SHIKARA (Cave at) | ||
| 79.8 | HALESIDDA, Wadehakli (Cave of the) | ||
| 79.8 | BAVALIHAKKI CAVE | ||
| 86.2 | RUDRAKSHI MANTAPA GAVI | ||
| 86.3 | VIBHUTI KANAJA |