Jamunotri Marble Arches

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Holes caused by the steam of a great number of boiling springs (HODGSON 1822: 147) give access to thermal caves in the névé (perpetual snow) accumulating on the approach to Yamunotri. One of them had been entered on the 21st April of the year 1817 and was partly explored by the glare of white lights (HODGSON 1822: 148). SITUATION: In the streambed of the Yamuna or Jumna on the approach to Yamunotri or Jumnoutri (note 1) and upstream of Kharsali or Khursali, Cursali and Cursala (note 2) where … the snow which covers and conceals the stream is about 60 yards wide, and is bounded to the right and left by mural precipices of granite, it is 40 feet 5.5 inches [12.33 m] thick [note 3], and has fallen from the precipices above. In front, at the distance of 500 yards, part of the base of the great Jumnotri mountain rises abruptly, cased in snow and ice, and shutting up and totally terminating the head of this defile, in which the Jumna originates. The snow is very solid, and hard frozen (HODGON 1822: 147). From this place, the line of the course of the Jumna [Yamuna] is perceptible downward to near Lak'ha Mándál [Lakha Mandal] and is 55°40 S. west [note 4] (HODGSON 1822: 66). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1817: We found means to descend through it [the bed of snow] to the Jumna, by an exceedingly steep and narrow dark hole made by the steam, and witnessed a very extraordinary scene, for which i was indebted to the earliness of the season, and unusual quantity of snow which has fallen this year. When I got footing at the stream (here only a large pace wide), it was some time before I could discern any thing, on account of the darkness of the place, made more so by the thick steam; but having some white lights with me, I fired them, and by their glare was able to see and admire the curious domes of snow over head; these are caused by the hot steam melting the snow over it. Some of these excavations a very spacious, resembling vaulted roof of marble; and the snow, as it melts, falls inshowers, like heavy rain, to the stream which appears to owe its origin in a great measure to these supplies. Having only a short scaled thermometer with me, I could not ascertain the precise heat of the spring, but it was too hot to bear the finger in for more than two seconds, and must be near the boiling point. Rice boiled in it, but imperfectly. The water of them rises up with great ebullition through crevices of the granite rock, and deposits a ferugineous sediment, of which I collected some; it is tasteless, and I did not perceive any peculiar smell (HODGSON 1822: 147-148). ARCH DESCRIPTION 1826: Captain Thomas Skinner (1840? - 1843), 31st regiment, of the Bengal army, discovered not only that the snow was very thick in parts of the upper reaches of the Jumna and stretching across the river, formed marble arches for it to flow under but also served on 26th May 1826 as beautiful bridges we frequently passed, and found no little amusement in the sliding and tumbling they gave riseto (SKINNER 1832, 1: 299). CAVE POTENTIAL 1817: The range of springs is very extensive, but I could not visit them all, as the rest are in dark recesses and snow caverns (HODGSON 1822: 148).showers, like heavy rain, to the stream which appears to owe its origin in a great measure to these supplies. Having only a short scaled thermometer with me, I could not ascertain the precise heat of the spring, but it was too hot to bear the finger in for more than two seconds, and must be near the boiling point. Rice boiled in it, but imperfectly. The water of them rises up with great ebullition through crevices of the granite rock, and deposits a ferugineous sediment, of which I collected some; it is tasteless, and I did not perceive any peculiar smell (HODGSON 1822: 147-148). ARCH DESCRIPTION 1826: Captain Thomas Skinner (1840? - 1843), 31st regiment, of the Bengal army, discovered not only that the snow was very thick in parts of the upper reaches of the Jumna and stretching across the river, formed marble arches for it to flow under but also served on 26th May 1826 as beautiful bridges we frequently passed, and found no little amusement in the sliding and tumbling they gave riseto (SKINNER 1832, 1: 299). CAVE POTENTIAL 1817: The range of springs is very extensive, but I could not visit them all, as the rest are in dark recesses and snow caverns (HODGSON 1822: 148).