DEVGIRI CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A sufficiently large cave entrance (unidentified dimensions) faces an unspecified direction and leads to a relatively moist cave passage with a flowstone elephant head, which -- the passage -- decreases in size due to a constriction, where one has to stoop beneath calcite formations (speleothems), beyond which a relatively giant Shiv Linga (2.25 m high, 3.0 m in girth) is another attraction (AUTAR, K 1993: 1030) for gentlemen with a taste for stalagmite speleothems. ETYMOLOGY: The Hindi (ex Sanskrit) -dev- is a version of -devi- (goddess) or -deva- (god) while -giri- means hill but in the local Kond language -dongri- (Survey of India sheet 65-F/13, edition 1982). The … name -Devgiri- is given due to its location in hilly belt and presence of giant Shiv Linga inside the cave (AUTAR, K 1993: 1030). Some count Devgiri Gufa among the unique Chhattisgarh's natural structure (sic!) because it is one of Chhattisgarh's natural beutiful [sic!] places (chhattisgarh.com accessed 2009.01.16).SITUATION: At an unknown location somewhere within the –>Kanger National Park (south of Jagdalpur N19°04': E82°02') and at a spot (note 1) lying not only … between Kanger River and and Lower Kanger Valley Road but but also in hilly belt (AUTAR 1993: 1030). Since the Devgiri Cave appears to lie -- like the –>Kanger Karpan Cave -- at a comparatively low elevation above the banks of the Kanger River, it may represent a (former?, relic?) exsurgence of –>Dandak Cave, Kailash Cave, or –>Kotomsar Cave. CAVE DESCRIPTION: The cave mouth is sufficiently large but as we entered inside, the passage became slightly narrow. At a 30 m from the entrance, there is a 5-6 m long structure [calcite formation] resembling an elephant head, and forming a major attraction [note 2]. Since these formations are almost touching the ground, therefore, further movement is possible only by bending. Beyond this point, a giant Shiv Linga (2.25 m high, 3.0 m in girth) is another attraction. Beyond this point. varius other impressive looking stalactite and stalagmite formations are present. These formations glitter when the light is focussed on them. Even during summer, water droplets can be seen inside the cave, and it is delightful to see that the process of stalactite and stalagmite formation is still going on (AUTAR 1993: 1030). MERE BULLSHIT: DUREJA (2001.03.12) counts Devgiri in the Kanger National Park among those caves, which transport journalists in the pay of the Buisness Line (a financial daily) to the days of yore when civilisation was at its infancy. In the finaly analysis, DUREJA (2001.03.12) arrives at understanding that these … caves are an ideal hunting ground for those who love to confront the mysteries of an age about which little is known.us other impressive looking stalactite and stalagmite formations are present. These formations glitter when the light is focussed on them. Even during summer, water droplets can be seen inside the cave, and it is delightful to see that the process of stalactite and stalagmite formation is still going on (AUTAR 1993: 1030). MERE BULLSHIT: DUREJA (2001.03.12) counts Devgiri in the Kanger National Park among those caves, which transport journalists in the pay of the Buisness Line (a financial daily) to the days of yore when civilisation was at its infancy. In the finaly analysis, DUREJA (2001.03.12) arrives at understanding that these … caves are an ideal hunting ground for those who love to confront the mysteries of an age about which little is known.