MUNDA CAVE
33.550000,75.233300
Description
A spring of water issues from relatively small cave entrance, which gives access to some five metres of hand and knees crawl leading to at an estimated 20 m long walking sized cave passage that continues wet but unexplored due to more than waist deep water. On the other hand, this resurgence cave invites to meet an other obstacle, namely the "roaring" (note 1) demoness Munda (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION: »The opening was only high enough to admit a man on his hands and knees, and a stream flowed from it sufficient to turn a mill. Taking torches with us, we crawled into it, and at about five yards came to a part sufficiently lofty to allow us stand. Our attempt to advance was, however, frustrated by the bottom being entirely filled with water more than mid-deep, the depth of which, as ascertained by a stick, increased as it receded. As far as we could discern, the passage continued for above twenty yards [18 m], with a height of from six to eight feet [1.8 to 2.4 m]. How much further it penetrated the mountain we could not ascertain, but it seemed likely that it was nothing more than a natural drain for the waters of the mountain. These had now accumulated in larger quantity than usual, as the mouth of the cave had been blocked up with snow. It had been partially cleared away for our visit by order of the Malik, but the quantity was too considerable to be wholly removed, unless after some days' labour« (MOORCROFT & TREBECK 1841, 2: 253-254). CAVE POTENTIAL: The prospects are Inspiring. A neoprene wet suit or pontonniere is recommended to investigate the resurgence cave ("sufficient to turn a mill") or possible diving spot. SITUATION 1848: »Munda Cave« is indicated above the southern (left) bank of Jhelum river, and at a distance of about 3 km approximately south-west from »Wernagh [Verinag, note 3]« (ARROWSMITH in: HÜGEL 1840-1848, vol. 4: Map of the Panjab, etc). SITUATION 1841: In Upper Munda: »At Shahbad [circa N33°31': E034°15' ±2.5 km] we were told of a wonderful cave in the hills to the west [of Nur Jahan's palace, not pinpointed], at the bottom of which flowed a rill, forming some way within the cave a bath in a reservoir constructed of stone. In the winter the ice that was here formed was changed, it was said, to solid crystal on being brought into the air. The origin of this last story was, no doubt, the formation of stalactites [speleothems]; the rest of the account we undertook to verify, and on our return proceeded to ascend the face of the mountains on our left. On the way we crossed a considerable rivulet coming from the hills … [Proceeding in the direction towards] Bannahal [note 4], … about seven kos [20 km?] distant … we passed three springs, supplying small brook, a feeder of the Behut, and crossing this, we ascended the lower slope of the hills, continuing for some way on the Bannahal road. … continuing to ascend the hills, we managed, although the ground was rough and broken, to ride within four hundred feet [120 m] of the top. There we alighted [rather from horses, camels or elephants than from flying carpets], and crossing a thick bed of snow, came to the entrance of the cave of Munda. … Leaving Munda we descended to Shahabad [Shahbad]« (MOORCROFT & TREBECK 1841, 2: 253-254).
NOTE 1: Keyword: Cave accoustics. Apparently a Typhon cave: »Near Seleukia, the monster Typhon rumbled in the torrent of an underground river« (LANE FOX, Robin 1987: Pagans and Christians.- New York: Alfred A. Knopf, page 41). NOTE 2: Munda (she who bellows) is one of the seven Rakshasas (demons), a family of four sisters and three brothers who fed on human flesh. The names of the four sisters are Kapi, Kalpi, Munda, and Mandehi, and of the three brothers Sirkap, Sirsukh and Aba. The names are descriptive epithets appropriate to ravening beasts, kap = trembling, sakh = emaciated, ama = raw, etc. Rasalu, the son of Salivahana and a raja, often of Sakala (Sialkot), killed the Rakshasas except one, which is said to be still alive in a cavern -- at several places (after MARSHALL, John 1951: Taxila: an illustrated account …- Cambridge: University Press, vol. 1: 112). NOTE 3: »Wernagh« (ARROWSMITH in: HÜGEL 1840-1848, vol. 4: Map of the Panjab, etc), indicated as »Vernag« on the AMS sheet NI43-11 Anantnag (U502 Series, 1960 edition) but as »Vernay« in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 2 C4), was positioned on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) near N33°33': E075°15' as Verinag and Vernag. NOTE 4: Moorcroft's »Bannahal« is indicated as »Banhal« on the map of ARROWSMITH (in HÜGEL 1840-1847, vol. 4) and on AMS sheet NI43-11 (U502 series, 1960 edition) but positioned as »Banihal« near N33°25': E075°12' and north of the pass »Ban Hal« or »Banihal« (N33°31': E075°13' nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) on the road from Srinagar to Jammu. NOTE 5: William Moorcroft (1767 - 1825) was the first Englishman to be qualified as a veterinarian (He studied in France). Came to India in 1808 as Superintendent of East India Company's horses. He travelled widely, ostensibly in search of breading stock, but this was clearly more of a pretext than fact. Moorcroft's long-standing dream was to go to Bokhara, where he believed there were the best horses in Central Asia. In anticipation, in 1812 he sent a Persian, Mir Izzat-Allah to travel to the city in order to reconnoiter for the trip that he hoped to make himself in the future. In 1819 he finally got permission and support for this, his second (and last) major trip. Permission came from his friend Metcalf (MacGregor, Col. Sir Charles Metcalfe), who was then Head of Intelligence, and his approval was in order to collect intelligence, rather than purchasing horses. The most direct route was through Afghanistan, however, that country was in a state of civil war. Consequently, he decided to go via the northern route through Ladakh and the Karakoram pass. He left British territory in 1820, for a trip that would last until 1825. While waiting for permission from Kashgar to cross into Chinese Turkistan, he travelled and explored widely from his base in Leh; the greater part of Ladakh, the Karakoram Pass, the head-waters of the Yarkland River, the Western Himalaya, the Karakoram and the NW Frontier. After deciding that permission would never come to travel via Yarkland / Kashgar, in 1824 decided to go via Afghanistan, regardless of the civil conflict there. Travelled through Kashmir and Punjab, over the Khyber Pass, across the Oxus, and got to Bokhara. He died in the end of August 1825 on his return home in Balkh, North Afghanistan, where both he and Guthrie were buried. Burnes visited the graves on his way to Bokhara in 1832 (ALDER, Garry 1985: Beyond Bokhara: The Life of William Moorcroft, Asian Explorer and Pioneer Veterinary Surgeon.- London: Century Publishing. WILSON, H H 1841: The Travels of William Moorcroft and George Trebeck.- London]. NOTE 6: George Trebeck. Trained as a lawyer. At the age of 19 was recruited to travel with Moorcroft. on his 1819 trip to Bokhara as second in command and the one responsible for geographical logs and route selection. He died in 1825 on his return home in »Muzar« (Mazar-i- Sharif), North Afghanistan, having buried both Moorcroft and Guthrie in Balkh. Alexander Burnes visited the graves on his way to Bokhara in 1832. NOTE 7: Izzat- Allah, Mir (??-1825); Persian, recruited in 1812 by Moorcroft to travel to Bokhara in order to reconnoiter for a trip that Moorcroft hoped to make himself. On completion of the trip, Izzat-Allah wrote a book of his impressions and experiences and this became one of the first books on that part of the world that was read by Europeans. In 1819, Moorcroft got approval for the trip, and Izzat-Allah accompanied him as an interpreter. On reaching Turkistan in 1824, left the caravan to return to Delhi. Died in Peshawar the following year. NOTE 8: George Guthrie. Anglo-Indian who accompanied Moorcroft and Trebeck on their trip to Bokhara. He died in the end of August 1825 on his return home in Balkh, North Afghanistan, where both he and Moorcroft were buried.
Documents
Bibliography 27/04/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1823.05.10: William Moorcroft (note 5), George Trebeck (note 6), Mir Izzat Allah / Izzar Ullah (note 7) and George Guthrie (note 8) heard about the cave upon visiting Verinag and started for the cave on the same day. The attempt to explore this cave on a 10th of May was thwarted due to more than waist deep water but August / September / October would be a better (drier) time of the year.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | VERINAG | ||
| 1.8 | VERINAG CAVE | ||
| 4.0 | JAWAHAR ROAD TUNNEL | ||
| 4.0 | BANIHAL RAILWAY TUNNEL | ||
| 8.6 | ADIGAM SINK | ||
| 10.9 | SUNDABRAR SPRING | ||
| 14.7 | KUKARNAG CAVE & SPRING | ||
| 21.8 | Maliknag | ||
| 22.3 | SURYA GOFFAR, Martand |