Eaklaag Gupha

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A spacious (5 m to 8 m wide, up to 15 m or so high) but relatively short (26 m long) tunnel cave, which drains an active stream from an allochthonous catchment area in the north or north-east to the south or south-west, contains stalactite speleothems (Laumanns 2006.03.27 cave plan: Eaklaag Gupha). ETYMOLOGY: Little doubt remains that the recorded cave name -Eaklaag Gupha- derives from a corruption of -ek lakh- (Hindi: ek = one, lakh = ten thousand) and this is possibly not the relevant cave name but a misinterpreted proposal to discuss the monetary foundation on which eventual cooperation may be based (note 1). SITUATION  (after Sushma 2006.04.11 Mss (note 2): Mysterious Cave Found): The cave lies on the Choli, a small stream near the village of Kuta (note 3), some 12 km or 15 km on foot from Ascot (Askot), which itself lies 52 km from Pithoragarh (N29°35': E080°13': 1815 m asl) along the National Highway connecting Tanakpur (N29°05': E080°07') with Tavaghat (note 4). The rcorded GPS position is marred by an unidentified precision error (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss) and indicates a spot that lies at a linear distances of about 4 km approximately NNW from Askot (±8 m N29°45'53.7”: E080°20'02.3” WGS84) and 5.6 km north-west of the –>Dharichora Gupha in a tributary stream (perhaps the Choli Gad) from west to the Goriganga (note 5). APPROACH 1: The cave can be reached from Askot town by a long walk that first leads 500 m down into a river valley and subsequently 250 m up on the other side of the valley where one can follow a water channel that origins in a tributary valley a few hundreds of metres below the cave. Access via the channel and along the steep slope of the tributary valley is partly difficult due to height exposure (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss). APPROACH 2: The cave can be reached from Askot town (N29° 45'53.7”: E080° 20'02.3” (±8 m), 1310 m asl Casio pathfinder wristwatch, or 1267 m Eschenbach altimeter) by a long walk that firs leads 500 m [approximately north-east] down into a river valley (river Rotish Gad, 745 m asl. Casio pathfinder wristwatch) [a tributary from the west to the right bank of the Gouriganga / Gauri Ganga], and subsequently 250 m up on the other side of the valley where one can follow a water channel (the irrigation system is very nice developed and maintained) that origins in a tributary valley a few hundred metres below the cave. Access via the channel and along the steep slope of the tributary valley is partly difficult due to height exposure (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). APPROACH 3: Alternative access can be made from the old British bridge [at an unidentified GPS position which lies at an unidentified distance] NE of Askot. This saves the 500 m descend from Askot down into the valley. The rest of the journey via the water channel and the hill slope remains the same. In any case a local guide is necessary to find Eaklaag Gupha. The way back down is best made through the rver gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure to getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss). APPROACH 4: Alternative access can be made from the old British bridge [at an unidentified GPS position which lies at an unidentified distance] NE of Askot. This saves the 500 m descend from Askot down into the valley. The rest of the journey via the water channel and the hill slope remains the same. The way back down is best made through the river gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure of getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (take waterproof bags for your electronic instruments!) (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: A 26 m long through cave where travertine incrustations have covered the 25 m high and 7 or 10 m wide river gorge with a roof The river rushes through the cave. Calcite decorations (stalactites, flowstone) are abundant (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss; Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: The perennial Choli Gad (stream) flows through a tunnel cave (10 m wide, 25 m high and 25 m long) containing secondary calcite formations (after Sushma 2006.04.11 Mss: Mysterious Cave Found). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore: The beautiful sculptures (Sushma 2006.04.11 Mss) are stalactites and stalagmites regarded as self-arisen (swayambhu) representations of gods (including linga of Mahadev / Shiva) and mythical naga (primeordeal serpents).ver gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure to getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss). APPROACH 4: Alternative access can be made from the old British bridge [at an unidentified GPS position which lies at an unidentified distance] NE of Askot. This saves the 500 m descend from Askot down into the valley. The rest of the journey via the water channel and the hill slope remains the same. The way back down is best made through the river gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure of getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (take waterproof bags for your electronic instruments!) (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: A 26 m long through cave where travertine incrustations have covered the 25 m high and 7 or 10 m wide river gorge with a roofver gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure to getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss). APPROACH 4: Alternative access can be made from the old British bridge [at an unidentified GPS position which lies at an unidentified distance] NE of Askot. This saves the 500 m descend from Askot down into the valley. The rest of the journey via the water channel and the hill slope remains the same. The way back down is best made through the river gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure of getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (take waterproof bags for your electronic instruments!) (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: A 26 m long through cave where travertine incrustations have covered the 25 m high and 7 or 10 m wide river gorge with a roofver gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure to getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss). APPROACH 4: Alternative access can be made from the old British bridge [at an unidentified GPS position which lies at an unidentified distance] NE of Askot. This saves the 500 m descend from Askot down into the valley. The rest of the journey via the water channel and the hill slope remains the same. The way back down is best made through the river gorge that has two waterfalls of a few metres height. Hence, the retreat from the cave also involves the pleasure of getting entirely wet and being in contact with starving leaches, too (take waterproof bags for your electronic instruments!) (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: A 26 m long through cave where travertine incrustations have covered the 25 m high and 7 or 10 m wide river gorge with a roof The river rushes through the cave. Calcite decorations (stalactites, flowstone) are abundant (Laumanns 2006.04.14 Mss; Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: The perennial Choli Gad (stream) flows through a tunnel cave (10 m wide, 25 m high and 25 m long) containing secondary calcite formations (after Sushma 2006.04.11 Mss: Mysterious Cave Found). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore: The beautiful sculptures (Sushma 2006.04.11 Mss) are stalactites and stalagmites regarded as self-arisen (swayambhu) representations of gods (including linga of Mahadev / Shiva) and mythical naga (primeordeal serpents).