MASRUR CAVES
32.133300,76.250000
Description
Not "caves" in the speleological sense of the word but man-made, rock chambers (rock-cut temples), which have been carved in the 10th century AD from a sandstone rock in the open air (note 1) to build a sacred site made from solid rock (note 2). The man-made, excavated architectural structure is neertheless regarded as »caves« (DESHPANDE, M N 1992: 4-5, figures 8, 9) and was said to consist of 1990 Fifteen or »15 richly carved rock-cut temples in the Indo-Aryan style. They are partly ruined but still show their relationship to the better known and much larger temples at Ellora in Maharashtra« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 196; 1993: 261). 1997 »… 15 richly carved rock-cut temples in the Indo-Aryan style which were hewn from the sandstone cliffs in the 10th century AD. They are partly ruined but still show their relationship to the better known and much larger temples at Ellora in Maharashtra. This is a beautiful, peaceful place, fronted by a small artificial lake and a pleasant lawn compound. The sculptures are badly eroded but three crude statues of Sita, Rama and Lakshmi can still be made out in the dimly lit sanctum of the central temple …« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 283). 2001 »… 15 wonderful but damaged rock-cut temples in the Indo Aryan style … The only rock temples in the Himalaya, it's possible to see their resemblance to the Ellora temples in Maharashtra« (LONELY PLANET, India 2001: 256; 2003: 254-255; 2005: 274) 2006 »… fifteen richly carved monolithic rock temples sculpted in the splendid style of Kailash temple at Ellora are to be found at Masrur« (INDIA TOURISM, circa 2006 s.a.) 2006 »monolithic rock temples« (INDIA TOURISM, circa 2006 s.a.) 2009 »… the 10th century temples … badly damaged by the 1905 earthquake, the shikaras owe more than a passing resemblance to the Hindu temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 382). SITUATION: At Masroor or Masrur (note 3), which lies at travelling distances of about 32 km (note 4) along roads approximately south-west from Dharamsala / Dharamshala (32°13'N: 76°19'E) and 40 km (INDIA TOURISM, circa 2006 s.a.) from Kangra (32°06'N: 76°16'E) along the Nagrota (note 5) Surian / Sariana (note 6) link road. APPROACH: »There are buses to Masrur, but as the temple complex is a long way from town, the best option is a taxi; from McLeodganj [Macleodganj 32°15'N: 76°19'E] it's Rs 800 / 1200 one way / return and from Kangra [32°06'N: 76°16'E] Rs 500 return« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 274). CAVE LIFE -- not seen: »Bates & Harrison (1997), referring to Chakraborty (1983), report Otonycteris hemprichii from the Nagrota area of Himachal Pradesh but this locality is in Jammu and Kashmir (between Jammu and Udhampur on NH 1A [National Highway 1A]« (SAIKIA, U et al. 2011: 1638-1640).
NOTE 1: Compare the monolithic temples –>Dhamnatha (at –>Dhamnar, Rajasthan), –>Kailash (Ellora), and –>Mammalapuram (Tamil Nadu) in India and –>Takht-i- Rustam (Haibak) in Afghanistan. »The Rathas and the Kailashas are built in the Dravidian style, whereas the Masrur and Dhamnar ones are in the Nagara style. Masrur beats its Nagara rival in situation, size and execution. The Masrur complex has 15 temples, the Dhamnar has only eight. At Masrur, the temples not separate from it surround the central shrine, but at Dhamnar the smaller ones are entirely separate from the main one. Carvings and ornamentation at Masrur are of a much superior order than at Dhamnar and the length of the latter is one- third of the former. The Dhamnar group has been built in a pit-like hollow, whereas the Masrur group is on top of a 2500 feet high hill range. One looks below, the other looks up. One depresses, the other elates. In point of situation, Masrur beats the other two also. Ellora Kailasha are built in a pit … Although the remote location of these temples protected them from the invading army of Mahmud Ghazni and their stone construction prevented severe damage in the 1905 earthquake« (123himachal.com/kangra.html accessed 04.09.2004). NOTE 2: ROY CHAUDHURY (1981: 102-103) notes 15 rock-hewn »shikkara type shrines« at an elevation of 2500 feet (762 m asl), about 12 miles (some 18 km or 20 km) from »Nagar Kot« (Nagarkot). They were first noticed by H.L. Shuttleworth in 1913 and then surveyed by H. Hargreaves of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1915-1916 who assigned the Vaishnawa monument to the 8th century or somewhat later. NOTE 3: »Masrur« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 196; 1993: 261; 1997: 283; 2001: 256; 2003: 254-255; 2005: 274; 2009: 382) is indicated as »Masroor« on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 5 F1). NOTE 4: 1upindia.com/worship/hp.html (accessed 04.09.2004). NOTE 5: nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003): 1) Nagrota N32°07': E76°22' = Khas Nagrota / Nagrota Khas; 2) Nagrota N32°03': E76°05' 3) Nagrota N32°42': E75°15' NOTE 6: »Surian« 123himachal.com/kangra.html (accessed 04.09.2004), Sariana N32°00': E75°45' (WGS84).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | KANGRA NATURAL BRIDGE | ||
| 4.0 | SAHASTRA DHARA, Kangra | ||
| 4.0 | SAHASTRA DHARA, Bhawan | ||
| 4.0 | SHAHASTRADHARA, Kangra | ||
| 15.7 | NANDIKESHWAR CHAMUNDA GUFA | ||
| 23.3 | LAHESH CAVE | ||
| 24.0 | TRILOKNATH CAVE, Kangra: Kotla | ||
| 28.5 | JAWALA MUKHI | ||
| 47.1 | CHAMBA GLACIER CAVES |