KHARGAWAN (Cave near)
23.300000,83.200000
Description
What appears to be a stream cave penetrating sedimentary rocks of the Barakar group (coal-bearing Damuda Sandstone, Shale or Limestone), complete with sink and possibly even with a resurgence, was once observed somewhere north-west of Khargáoná or Karigaon, Kargaon, Kargaona and Khargawan (note 1), a village 21 km along the road north of Ambikapur (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1873: »The stream east of Khargáoná, which joins the Patpúria [note 3] near its mouth, passes underground for some distance east-north-east of the village. At the base of the tunnel a seam of about 1'6" [46 cm] of poor coal, possibly the same as in the Máhán and Patpúriá, is exposed. My attention was drawn to this peculiar tunnel by a flock of blue pigeons suddenly rising out of a hole near the road [note 4]. This hole proved to be an entrance to the cavern, the existence of which I might otherwise not have suspected« (BALL, V 1873a: 34). GLENNIE, E A (1959: 32) decided to turn the »peculiar tunnel« (BALL, V 1873a: 34) into a perpendicular tunnel: »The stream east of Khargaona which joins the Patpuria near its mouth passes underground for some distance, E.N.E. of the village. At the base of the tunnel a seam of about 1ft.6ins. [46 cm] of poor coal, possibly the same as in the Mahar [note 5] and Patpurpuria [note 6], is exposed. My attention to this perpendicular tunnel [note 7] was drawn by a flock of blue pigeons suddenly rising out of a hole near the road. This hole proved to be the entrance to the cavern, the existence of which I might otherwise not have suspected. (Rec.Geol.Surv. of India. VI. p.34.)« CRAVEN, S A (1969: 26) repeats Glennie: »A few isolated caves are reported in M.P. [Madhya Pradesh] away from the Kaimur Hills. Ball (1873), while prospecting in the Bisrampur coal-field (now called Ambikapur), noticed that the stream, east of Khargaona (83° 14', 23° 19') [note 8], passes underground for some distance, ENE. of the village. The entrance is near the road.« CAVE POTENTIAL: »The cave in Barakar Sandstone in Sarguja State would be worth a visit if one was in that locality. The sandstone is said to be easily eroded and perhaps the sand particles are cemented together with calcite explaining the formation of the cave by the solution of the cementing material and the washing away of sand« (Glennie, E A circa 1948 s.a. Mss: Preliminary Record: Introduction). Judging from the map there appear to exist several interestings localities (note 4) which look like being worth to spend a few days roaming in the vicinity of Khargawan. Khargawan localities apparently in need of being speleologically checked are positioned at 23°16'20”N: 83°14'25”E Padripani Nala spring 23°18'35”N: 83°14'55”E Bansdohar Nala spring 1 23°19'05”N: 83°12'55”E Bansdohar Nala spring 2 24°15'00”N: 83°12'00”E Banki Nadi tributary gorge 1 24°16'45”N: 83°11'00”E Banki Nadi tributary gorge 2 24°17'10”N: 83°10'30”E Banki Nadi tributary gorge 3 24°19'15”N: 83°10'20”E Mahan Nadi tributary gorge 1 24°19'30”N: 83°11'15”E Mahan Nadi tributary gorge 2. CAVE LIFE: BALL, V (1873a: 34) had noticed a »flock of blue pigeons suddenly rising out of a hole near the road.«
NOTE 1: »Khargáoná« (BALL, V 1873: 35) and »Kargaona« (BALL, V 1873 map: Bisrampur Coal-Field) or »Kargaon« (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 26) is shown as »Karigaon« on AMS sheet NF44-04 Ambikapur (U502 series, 1962 edition) but indicated as »Khargawan« between 23°17'50”N: 83°10'40”E and 23°18'45”N: 83°11'15”E: 555 m (Everest 1830) on Survey of India 1: 50'000 sheet 64-M/03 (edition 1975). NOTE 2: Ambikapur (also: Surguja, Sarguja, Sirgoojah, Sirguja) near 23°07'N: 83°12'E (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) on AMS sheet NF44-04 Ambikapur (U502 series, 1962 edition) and on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 74 C1). NOTE 3: The stream »Patpúriá« (BALL, V 1873: 35) is not identified and not shown on the »Map of the Bisrampur Coal Field« (BALL, V 1873) or on Survey of India sheet 64-M/03 (edition 1975): »The Patpúriá stream rises in the high ground of the quartzite spur below Dhuriá [not identified. Perhaps: Chotka Daviha, 6 km in a direct line due east of Khargawan], where it passes on to the Barákars. The rocks exposed are of very peculiar appearance; they consist of pebble beds and coarse conglomerates, which latter contain masses of blue quartz, jasper, and jasper breccia, derived from the sub-metamorphics in the vicinity« (BALL, V 1873a: 34). NOTE 4: Only one of the streams east of Khargawan is crossed (without a ford or a bridge) by the only road in the area, which runs to Panchidand / Pampadur village. The suspected stream runs from 23°18'20”N: 83°11'50”E (SE of Khargawan) via 23°18'35”N: 83°11'50”E (E of Khargawan) and 23°18'55”N: 83°11'45”E (stream crossed by road from Khargawan to Panchidand) and 23°19'05”N: 83°11'35”E (north of Khargawan) to 23°19'25”N: 83°11'25”E (stream confluence with Maha nada river). NOTE 5: »Mahar« (GLENNIE 1959) is a variant or »Mahan« (BALL, V 1873a). NOTE 6: »Patpurpuria« (GLENNIE 1959) is a variant of »Patpúriá« (BALL, V 1873a). NOTE 7: The »perpendicular tunnel« composed by GLENNIE, E A (1959) -- fond of vertical caves -- is a case of wishful thinking. The original is a »peculiar tunnel« (BALL, V 1873a). NOTE 8: The position »83° 14', 23° 19'« (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 26) is suspected to reflect an attempt to quote the manuscript original »N.Lat 23° 18' E.Long 83° 12'« (Glennie, E A circa 1948 s.a. Mss: Preliminary Record: Appendix A: Eastern States: Sarguja State).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20.4 | MAHADANI DEO, Marcha Hill (Cave of) | ||
| 71.9 | SUKANDAR DEEP WATER-HOLE | ||
| 74.1 | BURADAN CAVES, Mara / Muri | ||
| 74.1 | CHHEWAR CAVES, Mara / Muri | ||
| 74.1 | RAVAN CAVES, Mara / Muri | ||
| 91.6 | MAKRI KHOH | ||
| 126.9 | BIDI CAVES, Mirzapur | ||
| 132.4 | ANJANA DEVI GUFA, Anjan, Anjana | ||
| 137.4 | GUPT NATH, Baijnath |