CATACOMBS CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 24/03/2016

An apparently substantial cave with two vertical and one horizontal cave entrance in the Maradeo / Mandadeo are somewhere north-east of –>Pachmarhi. SITUATION: Possibly indicated near (±250 m) 22°29'55”N: 78°28'35”E: circa (±20 m) 920 m (Everest 1830) and close to the upper margin of Survey of India sheet 55-J/07 (1976 edition) . See also –>Bania Beri (Sambourne Caves) in the same area. APPROACH: »The Catacombs.– To reach these caves go straight on along the path to the Sambourne Caves and about 1/2 mile [some 800 m] on downhill. The first indicationes of the caves are two large round holes in the ground on the left hand side. These are the sky lights and called Jane's Folly. After 50 yards the path turns to the left and goes down a rather steep incline in a semi-circle right to the mouth of the caves. … The Catacombs should be easily found, once Sambourne Caves have been reached« (Glennie, E A circa 1948 s.a. Mss "Preliminary record" after GUIDE TO PACHMARHI 1936). CAVE DESCRIPTION: »… two large round holes in the ground on the left hand side … are the sky lights and called Jane's Folly … To explore the caves one must have some form of artificial light, preferably an electric torch. The first cave leads into a second one on the same level; the ascend to the other caves has to be climbed« (Glennie, E A circa 1948 s.a. Mss "Preliminary record" after GUIDE TO PACHMARHI 1936).