SHAH QATAR (Cave at)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An almost triangular cave entrance gives access to a small, natural temple cave in marble along fissures enlarged by erosion (note 1). This is possibly the cave which Idries SHAH (1986 etc) had in mind when staging Ahmed Shah's Treasure Cave. Compare the Cave of –>Kora Kush (Paghman). SITUATION: The cave lies on one of the hillsides near the summit of a small but prominent hill which LINDBERG (1958: 113) called Kouh Chah Qatar (note 2). The hill, built up of metamorphosed limestone and schists, rises above Bektut (note 3), a village 4 km in a direct line NNE of Paghman town (N34°35': E68°57'), north-west of Kabul city (N34°31': E69°11', WGS84). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The brick-walled cave entrance leads to an about 6 m long rift cave passage which continues half a metre wide for another two or three metres. Boulders on the right hand side separate a gallery which lies at a 1 m higher elevation and leads to two inaccessible, 1.5 and 2 m long extensions. There is also a small, impeetrable chimney. One fissure in the rock is fabulously decorated with speleothems. The floor is covered with stones. A little below the cave issues a spring. CULTURAL HISTORY - folklore: The cave is sacred to Shi'a Muslims and believed to be very extensive (keyword: fabulous tunnel). The Imam Ali himself (cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad) is said to have disappeared here (keyword: exitcave), complete with his camel. Near the cave entrance, the imprint of the camel's head and both humps are seen till today. CAVE CLIMATE: The cave is dry. On 24th March 1958 an air temperature of 8.5°C was measured in the interior, and 9.5°C (during daytime?) in the entrance.etrable chimney. One fissure in the rock is fabulously decorated with speleothems. The floor is covered with stones. A little below the cave issues a spring. CULTURAL HISTORY - folklore: The cave is sacred to Shi'a Muslims and believed to be very extensive (keyword: fabulous tunnel). The Imam Ali himself (cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad) is said to have disappeared here (keyword: exitcave), complete with his camel. Near the cave entrance, the imprint of the camel's head and both humps are seen till today. CAVE CLIMATE: The cave is dry. On 24th March 1958 an air temperature of 8.5°C was measured in the interior, and 9.5°C (during daytime?) in the entrance.