CHU PHUG, Jiu: Ganga Chu

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified number of some caves reports PRANAVANANDA (1949: 124) from near hot water springs (note 1) below Chiu Gompa (also: Jiu Gompa; compare –>Chiu Gompa Phug) and about 400 m downstream (note 2) above the right (northern) bank of the Ganga Chu (Ganga Chu), the overflow channel (note 3) of lake Manasarowar and (perhaps) sometimes dry streambed (compare the –>Jiu Underground Drainage) flowing into Rakas Tal at the head of the river Sutlej. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Here [is] a donkang (Tibetan dharmashala), some caves and a hot water kund [pool] (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 124 note 1). HOT SPRING 1905: At present, the bed is full of stagnant water (saline) and there are many hot sulphur springs, the water in some instances too hot to touch with comfort (SHERRING & LONGSTAFF 1906 edited 1993: 272). HOT SPRING 1906: SHERRING & LONGSTAFF (1906: 271) give a photograph showing The connecting channel between Mansarowar Lake (14,900 ft.) on right and Rakas Tal (14,850 ft.) on left witj Jiu Monastery n the hill in foreground: Taken from the south. The white deposits in the channel are saline and also due to hol sulphur springs in the bed. HOT SPRING 1907, August 17th: A day of rest was devoted to a preliminary investigation of the channel where several cold and hot spings rise up; two of the latter had temperatures of 117° [Fahrenheit = 47.2°C] and 122° [50.0°C] respectively, while in testing the third a thermometer graduaded up to 150° [65.6°C] did not suffice, and the tube burst. A spring of 117° [47.2°C, the coldest] in a walled basin is said to be used as a medical bath, but one must be a Tibetan to stew in water so hot. A small stone cabin beside it serves as a dressing room (HEDIN 1909-1911, 2.xlviii: 159). HOT SPRING 1949: There are three thermal springs on the Ganga Chhu about two furlongs [402 m] from Manasarowar down the Chiu hill. One spring is on the right bank, and one on the left bank (with a kund to take bath), one boiling springs on a small rock [apparenty built upfrom travertine, calcareous tufa] in the middle of the Ganga Chhu, having temperatures of 115°, 135°, and 170°F [46.1°C, 57.2°C and 76.7°C] respectively [note 1] (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 47).from travertine, calcareous tufa] in the middle of the Ganga Chhu, having temperatures of 115°, 135°, and 170°F [46.1°C, 57.2°C and 76.7°C] respectively [note 1] (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 47).