DUNGA DORA
31.151400,76.953300
Description
The so-called Dunga Dora, renowned as a »two miles« (3 km) long cave (note 1), consists of a 150 feet (estimated 45 m) long walking passage leading to a choke of unspecified nature (collapse?). ETYMOLOGY: The somewhat Spelunkish sounding "Dunga Dora" is suspected to stand for a garbled "Dunga Dwara" (dunga / dhunga = rock, stone; dwar = door, gate, entrance, hence cave) or, perhaps, a bowdlerized "Durga Dwara" (Cave of Durga [note 2], an aspect of the Hindu goddess Kali), especially since »temples dedicated to Goddess Durga and local devtas« are characteristic for the hilltops around Arki (note 3). On the other hand, the Hindi "dhaora" is »a large handsome tree, Anogeissus latifolia« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 25: ix). SITUATION: Conway, J (ca. 1971 s.a. "Map of Caving District Arki" without coordinates) shows Dunga Dora about a kilometre (or so) approximately west of Arki (31°09'N: 76°58'E: 1045 m). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: »The big day had arrived, we were going to explore out first cave Dunga Dora. The party was assembled, all the 500' [500 feet or 152 m] of ladder brought out and put back, and off the party went out into the jungle. After about three hours of walking around in circles, a local farmer was found and a small track followed to a cave half way up a cliff face. The party entered the cave followed by the faithful Energy. The passage was a walking passage but it choked up after 150 feet [apparently estimated 45.7 m]« (HALL, C 1971: 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: »If I remember, we did not pay to much attention to these caves, as they were very small and mostly horizontal« (Conway, J circa 1982.09.15 s.a. Mss).
NOTE 1: »Energy [mate of the local police officer] told of a two mile long cave which was called Dunga Dora« (HALL, C 1971: 6). NOTE 2: Durga, literally "inaccessible", is »a form of Shiva's wife, Devi, a beautiful, fierce women riding a tiger; a major goddess of the Shakti sect« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1107). Durga is the terrible, frightening aspect of the mother goddess Kali (DEVI MAHATMYA, circa 550, chapter 11; KINSLEY 1986 / 1987: 99, 107; SOMADEVA circa 1100; VAKPATIRAJA, ca. 700: Gaudavaho, Verses 285-337), the untamed and unmarried version of Devi, (The) Goddess, the supreme goddess manifested (VINDHYA MAHATMYA, s.a., circa 1810?; HUMES 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996 edited 1998). NOTE 3: Usha BANDE (Sunday, August 18, 2001): Arki, a town of cave-temples.- India Tribune (Chandigarh) online tribuneindia.com/2001/20010818/windows/getaway.htm (accessed 05.11.2003)
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1970.09.19 or 20 (?): "Energy" (something -ji? or jee?, mate of the Arki police officer "Sid" (C.I.D.) told Members of the British Speleological Expedition to the Himalaya 1970 of the cave. 1970.09.24 (?): "Energy" guided the BSE people to the cave, where they explored and surveyed.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | MUTRU MAHADEV GOFFAR | ||
| 1.3 | KOTLA CAVE (Glennie 1937) | ||
| 1.6 | LUTRU MAHADEVA CAVE | ||
| 1.6 | Arki Resurgence | ||
| 2.0 | JAKHOLI CAVE | ||
| 4.6 | SHALAGHAT, Solan (Cave at) | ||
| 5.6 | DAWARAS | ||
| 7.0 | Saug Goffar | ||
| 8.7 | PAJYARE RA KOTLA 2 |