BHIAR DHAR

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A north-facing cave entrance, about 3 m to 4 m wide, gives access to a single chamber cave (note 1) measuring up to 13.6 m in width, estimated 6 m or 7 m in height and 32.4 m in length (B.S. Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook). The cave passage slopes by roughly 10° in an unspecified direction, is formed in a curious limestone rich in carbonate (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss) and contains, in addition to more than 35 counted stalagmites (speleothems) fed by dripping or oozing waters, about seven pillars (calcite colums). IDENTITY: Bhiar Cave Dhar ¬ Bittdocave ¬ Natural Cave (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook) is strikingly similar to the –>Chohia Organ Cave, which lies in the same area (about 1.5 km in a direct line approximately SSW of Gorchha village near N77°48': E077°47') and, according to the two blunderful GPS positions of low precision (EPE ±14 m, ±32 m) recorded by Professor Bahadur S. Kotlia, at linear distances of 29.8 m (EPE ±32 m) NNE or 606 m (EPE ±14 m) approximately NE of Bhiar har Gupha. ETYMOLOGY: The cave name Bhiar Cave Dhar ¬ Bittdocave ¬ Natural Cave possibly translates as something along the lines of a Terrace Hill Cave where the Kumaoni -bhir, bhiro- means terrace, wall (KALYANARAMAN 1998 cluster 6384) as the Kumaoni -bhito- signifies a ridge, terrace, upper side of field (TURNER, R. L. 1966 A comparative dictionary of the Indo-Aryan languages.- Oxford University Press: 9491), and -dhar- is one of the local terms for mountain (glossary on the legend of AMS sheet NH44-10 Almora, U502 series, 1958 edition). This Bhiar may also represent a version of Bahal, the name of a stream (Bahal Khal), ravine or gully, which is shown on the Survey of India sheet 53-F/13 S2 (Four Inch Forest Map series, circa 1940 edition) to descend from where the cave lies towards the approximate North and North-East. APPROACH 1: Bhiar Cave Dhar ¬ Bittdocave ¬ Natural Cave (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook) is said to lie in an area (note 2), which has been reached by travelling fom Chakrata (30°42'N: 77°51'E) for 20 km along the Tiuni / Tuni road (note 3) up to Lokhundi (note 4) and then by proceeding from Lohkhandi (sic!) initially 3 km by car and later 7 km in an unrecognised direction on ponyback (10h35 to 12h45 = 2h10 up; 15h30 to 17h40 = 2h10 down). The very last bit from the pony trail to the cave entrance is without any road about 1/2 km (500 m) uphill on foot. APPROACH 2: An alternative route is to travel (perhaps by car, perhaps by pony) to Gorchha [note 5]. Then walk for 3 km [possibly there and back again] uphill (steep) (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook). POSITIONS (all by Bahadur S. Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook): N30.7948°: E077.7727° (±14 m): 2315 m asl (GPS Garmin Etrex); N30°47'41.3”: E077°46'21.7” (±14 m): 2315 m asl (modified after Kotlia 2005.11.08 (note 6), GPS Garmin Etrex); N30°47'25.1-: E077°46'35.6- (±32 m): 2415 m asl (with another, Breitenbach's GPS Garmin Etrex); 2241 m asl (Eschenbach -Alpin EL- 69413) at the entrace (?); 2242 m asl (Eschenbach -Alpin EL- 69413) at 6 m from the entrance; 2236.5 m asl (Eschenbach -Alpin EL- 69413) at 32.4 m from entrance. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Bhiar Cave Dhar ¬ Bittdocave ¬ Natural Cave ¬ Angle of slope 10° (almost constant thoughout the cave). Hole of entrance: About 3 m wide but at the beginning but wider on the top /ca. 4 m wide). Water dripping, presently developing the stelegmites [sic!]. At the corner (end) of the cave, there is a little upper floor [note 7] on which also stelegmites are developing with water dripping on them. Stelectites are not thick but long enough. The high of cave is 6 to 7 m. At least two stelegmites reach very near to the roof of the cave. Stelegmites several of varied diameter and length, minimum diameter at the base 20 cm and maximum diameter 4 m. Height of stelegmites vary from 15 cm to 6 m. There are several. At least 35 of them are counted by the team. Some are broken at the beginning at the cave. Natural cave, no fluvial activity inside the cave deleted: No traces of any river (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook) VEGETATION: Details of vegetation in the area of the cave: Cedrus deodara, a tall and gregorious tree, probably the largest and longest lived tree in the country. Leafes one to 1.5 Inches long, acicular, green. It is found in a distinct zone, which in Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal is between 7,000 to 8,500 feet. In the lower limit the blue pine and elsewhere the spruce fir are its companions. Pinus longifolia: Leave in bundles of three, 9 to 12 Inches long, throughout Jaunsar & Bhaber area. It is found between 2,000 to 6,500 feet, often forming extensive pure forests. Quercus incana: Large evergreen tree, leafes 3 to 6 by 1 to 2 Inches, Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal, between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Generally associated with Ayar. Indiactor of moisture. Quercus dialatata: Shade enduring tree, almost evergreen, Jaunsar / Tarai Bhaber, between 6,500 to 8,000 feet. Occupying a zone between that of Kharshu tree (withthorns), generally associated with firs and deodars (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook).y inside the cave deleted: No traces of any river (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook) VEGETATION: Details of vegetation in the area of the cave: Cedrus deodara, a tall and gregorious tree, probably the largest and longest lived tree in the country. Leafes one to 1.5 Inches long, acicular, green. It is found in a distinct zone, which in Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal is between 7,000 to 8,500 feet. In the lower limit the blue pine and elsewhere the spruce fir are its companions. Pinus longifolia: Leave in bundles of three, 9 to 12 Inches long, throughout Jaunsar & Bhaber area. It is found between 2,000 to 6,500 feet, often forming extensive pure forests. Quercus incana: Large evergreen tree, leafes 3 to 6 by 1 to 2 Inches, Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal, between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Generally associated with Ayar. Indiactor of moisture. Quercus dialatata: Shade enduring tree, almost evergreen, Jaunsar / Tarai Bhaber, between 6,500 to 8,000 feet. Occupying a zone between that of Kharshu tree (withy inside the cave deleted: No traces of any river (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook) VEGETATION: Details of vegetation in the area of the cave: Cedrus deodara, a tall and gregorious tree, probably the largest and longest lived tree in the country. Leafes one to 1.5 Inches long, acicular, green. It is found in a distinct zone, which in Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal is between 7,000 to 8,500 feet. In the lower limit the blue pine and elsewhere the spruce fir are its companions. Pinus longifolia: Leave in bundles of three, 9 to 12 Inches long, throughout Jaunsar & Bhaber area. It is found between 2,000 to 6,500 feet, often forming extensive pure forests. Quercus incana: Large evergreen tree, leafes 3 to 6 by 1 to 2 Inches, Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal, between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Generally associated with Ayar. Indiactor of moisture. Quercus dialatata: Shade enduring tree, almost evergreen, Jaunsar / Tarai Bhaber, between 6,500 to 8,000 feet. Occupying a zone between that of Kharshu tree (withy inside the cave deleted: No traces of any river (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook) VEGETATION: Details of vegetation in the area of the cave: Cedrus deodara, a tall and gregorious tree, probably the largest and longest lived tree in the country. Leafes one to 1.5 Inches long, acicular, green. It is found in a distinct zone, which in Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal is between 7,000 to 8,500 feet. In the lower limit the blue pine and elsewhere the spruce fir are its companions. Pinus longifolia: Leave in bundles of three, 9 to 12 Inches long, throughout Jaunsar & Bhaber area. It is found between 2,000 to 6,500 feet, often forming extensive pure forests. Quercus incana: Large evergreen tree, leafes 3 to 6 by 1 to 2 Inches, Jaunsar and Tehri Garhwal, between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Generally associated with Ayar. Indiactor of moisture. Quercus dialatata: Shade enduring tree, almost evergreen, Jaunsar / Tarai Bhaber, between 6,500 to 8,000 feet. Occupying a zone between that of Kharshu tree (withthorns), generally associated with firs and deodars (Kotlia 2005.11.08 Mss: Notebook).