KAPIL NISWAS GUPHA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A triangle-shaped, ESE-facing cave entrance (up to 8 m or 10 m high and wide), which was characterised in March 2006 by a cage-like shed, gives access to a solitary linear cave passage that leads some 25 m WSW to collapsed cross-rifts (after Laumanns 2006.03.29 cave plan: Kapil Niswas Gupha). ETYMOLOGY: Laumanns & Breitenbach (2006.04.15 Mss) recorded this cave as Kapil Niswas Gupha --where -niswas- is difficult to interprete-- and in connection with an unidentified village of Kapil Niswas (unidentified position) as if the cave were a -Gupha ki Kapil Niswas- or Cave [of] Kapil Niswas. On the other hand, the Hindi expression -kapil niwas- signifies a treasure house and then we are told that a metal fence shed has been erected in front of the cave entrance for storing … used plastic bags and bottles (note 1). SITUATION: Not only the plastic waste storage shed but also The [cave] entrance is easily visible when passing by (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss) in a hired car on a road fom Dehra Dun (N30°19': E078°02': 700 m asl) to Mussoorie (N30°27': 078°05': 2000 m asl) where the cave lies not only on one or the other side of the road and at an unidentified distance short of Mussoorie but also in an unspecified spatial relation toa village allegedly called Kapil Niswas (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION: Kapil Niswas Gupha consists of a roomy single passage in Precambrian limestone (6 m wide and 4.5 m high) that leads in NW direction. Sediment infill causes an ascending slope at the end of the passage where smaller extensions continue towards the NW and NE, which are blocked by boulders (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: A metal fence shed has been erected in front of the cave entrance for storing purposes. The cave is full of litter. It´s roof and walls are covered with soot. Apparently, Kapil Niswas Gupha is occasionally used as a campsite (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss).om Dehra Dun (N30°19': E078°02': 700 m asl) to Mussoorie (N30°27': 078°05': 2000 m asl) where the cave lies not only on one or the other side of the road and at an unidentified distance short of Mussoorie but also in an unspecified spatial relation toa village allegedly called Kapil Niswas (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION: Kapil Niswas Gupha consists of a roomy single passage in Precambrian limestone (6 m wide and 4.5 m high) that leads in NW direction. Sediment infill causes an ascending slope at the end of the passage where smaller extensions continue towards the NW and NE, which are blocked by boulders (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: A metal fence shed has been erected in front of the cave entrance for storing purposes. The cave is full of litter. It´s roof and walls are covered with soot. Apparently, Kapil Niswas Gupha is occasionally used as a campsite (Laumanns & Breitenbach 2006.04.15 Mss).