SAHASTRA DHARA, Dehra Dun
30.385800,78.129000
Description
A gorge containing about five or six, if not seven (TEWARI, V C 2010: 169) primary caves or rock shelters in travertine / calcareous tufa (note 1) with lots of sub-recent to recent secondary calcite deposits (speleothems), is not only sacred to »Mahadeo« (SKINNER, T 1832, 1: 222) or Shiva and attractive for sight-seeing visitors but frustrating for cavers in search of the conventional since the beginning of the 19th century (note 2) -- or longer. ETYMOLOGY: The Sanskrit, Hindi, etc. »shastra dhara« (literally 'thousand doors' or gates, entrances, passages -- hence 'caves') or »sansar dhara« (dripping passage, dripping rock) and »sansar dhora« (dripping cave) has been recorded, transcribed, edited in several spelling varieties (note 3). It is when we come to Vinod Chandra TEWARI (2010: 168) that we are told an interpretation according to which »Sahastradhara in Indian language means thousand fold springs.« GEOLOGY 2010: »The Sahastradhara caves are located in the Neoproterozoic Krol Dolomite host rock (Tewari, 2007)« (TEWARI, V C 2010: 170). SITUATION 1821 (±3): »In the Dún [note 4]« (HERBERT, J D 1825: 389; 1842: lcxxxiii). SITUATION 1828a: Off the route from »Missoura« (Mussoorie N30°27': E078°05') south-east towards Dehra Dun, which Captain Thomas Skinner (1840? - 1843) descended »to Rajpoor [Rajpur N30°24': E078°06'], thence crossed several ravines, and passed along the beds of several others« to reach »the head of a dell, through which water pours from above, in innumerable little streams, like a perpetual shower of rain« (SKINNER, T 1832, 1: 221-222). SITUATION 1828b: »… in Northern Hindostan, situated in a deep and romantic glen on a branch of the Songh rivulet [note 5], among the mountains that form the northern boundary of the Deyrah Doon [Dehra Dun], seven miles [11 km] N. by E. from the town of Deyrah [note 6]« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 502). SITUATION 1887: »The situation of the dripping caves of Sansahdara is north-east seven miles from Dehra« (CAREY, W H 1887, 3: 85). SITUATION 1911: Half way up the precipitous right bank of the Baldi river, in Bagda Dhoran, east of Rajpur (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 28 after WALTON, H G 1911: 264: District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh: Dehra Dun district). SITUATION 1945: »Can you tell me something about caves near a village Koalkadunda, marked on the map No. 53 J [note 7], Ref. 750.000 ? Somewhere in the hills (high up I believe) where the Tehri state boundary bulges west below Mussorie along Northing 9, and at the head of the tributary flowing S.W.? I was told about these caves by the Chief Conservator of Forests, there, but have been told since, that he must have referred to sulphur springs caves« (LEAKEY, R D 1945.12.16 letter to Glennie, E A).SITUATION 1969: At the map reference TL625943 on the 1942 edition of the Survey of India sheet (One Inch series) 53-J/3 (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 28). SITUATION 1981: »Shahastra Dhara: A Dehra Duntól ÈK-re kb. 10 km-re található …« (KUBASSEK, J 1981: 38). SITUATION 1988: »14 km North East of Dehra Dun is Sahastradhara« (PRICE, Liz [Elizabeth] 1988b: 32) SITUATION 1990: 14 km from Dehra Dun / Dehra Doon (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 302; 1993: 358; 1996: 373). SITUATION 1997: »… the village of Sahastradhara (14 km east of Dehra Dun) with cold sulphur springs and a Tourist Rest House (Rs 150 for double; book through GMVN in Dehra Dun)« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 384). SITUATION 2001a: 14 km east of Dehra Dun / Dehra Doon (LONELY PLANET, India 2001: 378; 2003: 383; omitted in the 2005 and 2009 editions): . SITUATION 2001b: 14 km south of Dehra Dun (LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 479). SITUATION 2005a: »Sahastradhara … is situated at a distance of 14 km from Dehradun« (BASKAR et al. 2005: 1306) SITUATION 2005b: The tourist spot lies due north of Dehra Dun (Breitenbach 2005.10.29 to 11.13 Mss: Tagebuch). SITUATION 2005c: At »Sahasradhara village, North of Dehra Dun« (Breitenbach 2005.12.01 Mss: Bericht). SITUATION 2006: Both the place of tourist interest »Sahastradhara« and the spring »Sulphur Spring« is indicated in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 11 G1) north-east of Dehra Dun and at about halfway along the road towards the village of Dhanolti. SITUATION 2010: »Sahastradhara cave system: The Sahastradhara cave is situated at a distance of 14 km from the city of Dehradun, the state capital of a newly carved hilly state Uttarakhand in the NW Himalaya. The Doon valley is separated by the Lesser Himalayan Neoproterozoic Krol belt carbonate sediments in the north … by Main Boundary Thrust (M.B.T.). The Siwalik foreland basin sediments are found in the south of the Doon valley thrust over the Indo - Gangetic Plains along Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). The GPS location of the Sahastradhara cave is N 30 23.145 and E 78 07.741. The Doon valley is between the river Ganga in the east and Yamuna river in the west. Both these rivers have their origin from two different Himalayan glaciers, namely Gangotri for Ganga and Yamunotri for Yamuna« (TEWARI, V C 2010: 168). POSITION 1958: N 30°23': E078°08' (unspecified map datum probably Everest 1830, MEHTA, D R S et al. 1958: 29). POSITION 2010: »N 30 23.145 and E 78 07.741« (TEWARI, V C 2010: 168) probably in the sense of N 30°23'08.7”: E 78°07'44.5” / N 30.38575°: E 78.129017° (unspecified map datum). CAVE DESCRIPTION s.a.: »Williams a British naturalist had described this beautiful place in his words« (TEWARI, V C 2010: 167-168): »The only other holy spot worthy of special notice is the Suhusra Dhara (pronounced as Sahastradhara), a place of the thousand drippings which is a very simple phenomenon has invested with peculiar sanctity in the eyes of the people from the side of a charming valley to the east of Rajpur, oozes a mountain stream, distilling its waters over a precipice thirty feet high, and leaving a crust of lime on everything it touches. Particles, thus accumulating for continuous [centuries ?] have made a projecting ledge forming a sort of cave, from the roof of which falls a perpetual rain that turns every glade of grass coming in contact with it into a petrification. From above hang stalactites innumerable. Stalagmite covers the ground beneath. Opposite, there is a sulphur spring also possessing powers of petrification« (TEWARI, V C 2010: 167-168 after Williams). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1821 (±3a): Captain James Dowling Herbert had been told about »the Sunsar Dhora, or Dripping Cave« (p. lxxxiii) and not only searched for it but also found »some springs in the bed of this stream, which have a strong odour of sulphuretted hydrogen, and I should notice that the water of almost all these streams deposits carbonate of lime« (HERBERT, J D 1842: lxxxix). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1828: Captain Thomas Skinner (1840? - 1843) had visited »Sansadhara, or the dripping rock« in late April or on th 1st May of 1828 and considered it »a singular phenomenon, situated at the head of a dell, through which water pours from above, in innumerable little streams, like a perpetual shower of rain! The never-abating action of the water has worn the rock into many fantastic shapes; and, encrusting round the moss and fibres of the roots of trees, has given to it almost the appearance of a spar cavern. In several places the water has worn little reservoirs for itself, which are always full. It is cool, clear, and pleasant to the taste« (SKINNER, T 1832, 1: 221-222). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1882: »Dehra (2323 ft.), chief town, with … a petrifying spring known as the Suhusra Dhara ("place of the thousand drippings"), worshipped hy Hindoos« (SMITH, G 1882: 175). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1887: »The first appearance of the caves is very grand. The numerous and fantastic petrifications formed at, and overhanging the entrances, have a dazzling appearance if viewed when the rays of the sun are striking the drops of water, which are incessantly falling; thus seeming to form "a glittering screen to the wonders within." After proceeding six or seven yards within the caves, the excavation appears terminated, but with the assistance of lanterns (the tops of which are covered with oil skin, to prevent their being extinguished by the continued droppings) we succeeded in discovering (where the depth of the water was 4 feet,) a passage of about 2 feet above the water and 4 feet in width; with some difficulty we passed to another cave of considerable magnitude, the dimensions of which, however, we were unable accurately to ascertain by the dim light of our candles, all external light being excluded. On searching though this, we discovered a passage similar to, but somewhat longer than the former, and which in like manner, led us to a third cave. In this, however, we were unable to remain many minutes, the water falling so heavily as to extinguish the lights, notwithstanding the precaution we had taken to prevent it, and the sulphurous fumes being almost intolerable« (CAREY, W H 1887, 3: 85 compiled from an unspecified source of entertainment). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1828: »Sansa Dhara. -- A remarkable dropping cavern … The water from the rock above oozes through the roof in an incessant shower, and has formed by its action innumerable calcareous stalactites of great size and beauty, which have taken the shape of the roots, moss, and other decayed vegetable substances over which the water had passed (Fullarton &c)« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 502). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1911: Not seen: WALTON, H R (1911: 264). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1969: »The cave at Sahastradhara (TL625943) has been described by Walton (1911) half-way up the precipitous right bank of the Baldi River, in Bagda Dhoran, east of Rajpur. The roof continually drips petrifying water. There is a smaller cave nearby, attended by Brahmans from Nagal. The above map references are taken from the one inch map of 53 J/3 (1942 edition)« (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 28). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1981: »At a lower altitude (about 900 m) at the Shastradara sulphur springs, about six small caves have developed in the south-east facing cliff over Baldi Nadi (river). None had dark zones but they were superbly decorated; some roots and a match box had been covered in calcite, indicating that deposition of calcium carbonate is very rapid in these caves. In some moderately sized streams issued from the walls but all these streamways were partially filled by the rapidly depositing calcite. All were too tight to negotiate for more than three or four metres« (Jane M. Wilson in: DURRANT et al. 1979: 38-39). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1988: Sahastradhara is »… famous for its cold sulphur springs, which issue from eroded rocks, and again there is a temple with a lingam housed in a cave chamber« (PRICE, "Liz" E 1988b: 32). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1972: »There is a sulphurous hot spring at Sahasradhara« (note 8) (BOSE, S C 1972, 1976, 1979: 148). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005a: »Sahastradhara, meaning place of the ‘thousand-fold spring’, is situated at a distance of 14 km from Dehradun. Among the 1545 caves throughout India [note 9], the Sahastradhara sulphide spring caves are pH neutral as well as being exposed to light [read: without a dark zone], allow photosynthetic activity to take place. These caves are rather small in size (10 m long, 2 m wide) [note 10], but are important because of their exceptional beauty and the associated springs, which are of high medicinal value. The cold sulphide-rich spring water flows downward about 9 m, leaving an incrustation of carbonate on the surface. Accumulating over centuries, the incrustations form projecting ledges with caves, from the roofs of which falls a perpetual shower. Samples were taken from small stalactites, which are approximately 15 to 20 cm in length and 3 to 4 cm in diameter« (BASKAR, S et al. 2005: 1306) CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005b: Much travertine precipitates on the north-west side of the valley. There are a few grottoes but nothing big (Breitenbach, S F M 2005.10.29 to 11.13 Mss: Tagebuch, dated »10.11.05« in the sense of 10th November 2005 = 2005.11.10). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005c: »Sahasradhara … Cave length: 2-3? There are some small chambers (primary caves) … in travertine. Nice to see, but no potential« (Breitenbach 2005.12.01 Mss: Bericht). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010: »The seven caves of the Sahastradhara are small in size approximately 10 m long, 2 m wide. The smallest one is 2.5 m long and 2 m wide« (TEWARI, V C 2010: 169). CULTURAL HISTORY - Hindu cult spot (compare the cave of –>Shiva, Dehra Dun): 1828 »Sansadhara … a singular phenomenon … As all things out of the common course of nature are endowed by the Hindoos with something of a sacred character, Sansadhara is [late April 1828] the resort of pilgrims who are on their way to spots of higher veneration, both from their character and situation. They offer their prayers to Mahadeo, to whom it is dedicated, and perform their ablutions in the holy cisterns, and, though last, not the least essential of their duties, leave their mite with the brahmin who protects it« (SKINNER, T 1832, 1: 222). 1882 The »petrifying spring known as the Suhusra Dhara ("place of the thousand drippings"), [is] worshipped hy Hindoos« (SMITH, G 1882). CAVE LIFE: »Despite the fact that these caves were very wet, they were still occasionally used by roosting bats [Chiroptera] and a few small web-spinning spiders [Arachneae: Araneae]. Small Cobitid fish (loach of the genus Noemacheilus} lived in the clear thigh-deep cave pools« (Jane M. Wilson in: DURRANT et a. 1979: 39). BASKAR, S et al. (2005: 1306) reported from secondary calcite deposits (samples were taken from stalactites approximately 15 cm to 20 cm in length and 3 cm to 4 cm in diameter), which are said to have been collected at »Sahastradhara … a complex microbial community« including »a variety of indigenous heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and cyanobacteria. An abundant microbial community (9 ´ 105 cells, g sed–1) was detected by direct microscopic observation after DAPI staining. FISH, a staining technique based on the presence of rRNA, demonstrates the presence of a large number of active microbial cells, which are around 55% of the total cell number. The percentage of hybridization obtained with the two domain probes (Eub and Arch) depends on the content of ribosomes; FISH detects reliably only the physiologically active cells. The microbial community is dominated by Eubacteria, mainly sulphatereducing bacteria (representing 10% of the total microbial community), but Archaea are also present. A significant fraction of these cells is active, indicating the high probability of their participation in biomineralization processes involved in stalactite formation. A large number (about 26%) of detected Eubacteria belong to the d-subgroup of Proteobacteria, which is the largest group of organisms capable of dissimilatory sulphate reduction.« BASKAR, S et al. (2006) studied microbially induced calcite precipitation by culture experiments as a possible origin for some of the stalactites in Sahastradhara. BASKAR, S et al. (2011) confirm that »negative d18O values have been recorded in the Sahastradhara and Brahmakhal [–>Prakateshwar Gufa, Mehargaon] caves. … So far only the Sahastradhara cave has been examined for geomicrobiological as well as stable isotope studies« (BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 563).
NOTE 1: »XRD analysis indicates that calcite is the dominant mineral with aragonite and dolomite being present in trace amounts« (BASKAR, S et al. 2005: 1307). NOTE 2: HERBERT, J D (1825: 389) compared as early as October 1819 the primary "cave" in calcareous tufa / travertine at Yullang (Himachal Pradesh) »to that in the Dún called Sansár Dhárá« and suggested »it yields to this latter in the number, size and beauty of them [stalactites].« PARISH (1849: 368) reported a »stalactite encrusting dripping spring, which oozing through the conglomerate, forms stalactites and ecrusts every thing within its reach« from the vicinity of Kangra (N32°06': E076°16') and »Bhawun« (Bhawan N32°06': E076°16') in Himachal Pradesh. NOTE 3: The Sanskrit, Hindi, etc. »shastra dhara« (literally 'thousand doors' or gates, entrances, passages --hence caves) or »sansar dhara« (dripping passage) have been transcribed, spelled or edited as: Sadhasthradara WILSON, J (in: DURRANT et al. 1979 edited 1981: 38) Sahasradhara BOSE (1976: 148); Breitenbach, S F M (2005.12.01 Mss) Sahastradhara BASKAR et al. (2005: 1306: »place of the thousand-fold spring«; 2006; 2011: 554 figure 2 caption a); CRAVEN, S A (1969: 28 after WALTON 1911); LONELY PLANET, India (1990: 302, 1993: 358, 1997: 384, 2001: 378, 2003: 383); LONELY PLANET, North India (2001: 479); PRICE (1988b: 32); TEWARI, V C (2010: 168: »thousand fold springs«; 2012: 80) Sahastradhara Cave TEWARI, V C (2010: 168) Sahastradhara Cave System TEWARI, V C (2010: 168) Sahastradhara Sulphide Spring Caves (BASKAR et al. 2005: 1306) Sansa Dhara HAMILTON, W (1828, 2: 502) Sansadhara or »dripping rock« (SKINNER 1832,1: 221) Sansahdara or »dripping caves« (CAREY, W H 1887, 3: 85) Sansár Dhárá HERBERT, J D (1826); HODGSON (1822: 76) Shahastra Dhara KUBASSEK, J (1981: 38) Shahastradhara CRAVEN, S A (1969: 27 after Prakash, Ravi a.i.) Shastradara Sulphur Springs WILSON, J (in: DURRANT et a. 1979: 38 note 1) Suhusra Dhara or »place of thousand drippings« (SMITH, G 1882: 175); TEWARI, V C (2010: 168) after »Williams a British naturalist«Sunsar Dhora HERBERT, J D (1842: lxxviii). NOTE 4: Dun; flat-bottomed longitudinal structural valleys with their own drainage systems (NAKATA, T 1972. Geomorphic History and Crustal Movements of the Foot-Hills of the Himalayas.- Publication. Instt. of Geography, Faculty of Science, Tohoku Univ., 39-120) intermittently located between the Siwaliks and the Lesser Himalayas in northern Pakistan, India and southern Nepal. These essentially comprise several large Himalayan piedmont alluvial fans and terraces, which formed as a result of tectonic episodes in the flanking Siwaliks. The duns also consist of lacustrine, fluvial, aeolian and swamp-environment deposits, and range from Middle Pleistocene to Holocene in age. The monsoon rains temporarily supply seasonal streams (locally known as choes, khads, or nalas) located both within the Siwalik hills and the adjacent duns (CHAUHAN, Parth R 2003). NOTE 5: Song River N30°02': E078°15' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 6: Dehra Dun (Dehra, Dehra Doon) N30°19': E078°02' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003): 700 m asl (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 403). NOTE 7: The Survey of India sheet 53-J covers the area between N31°: E078° and N32°: E079° (Everest 1830).NOTE 8: Asthmatics are adviced better to avoid »Sahastradhara - located 14 km away is a sulphur water spring, having high medicinal value. The dripping caves and a refreshing bath on the Baldi river, all set in breathtaking environs, offer an exhilarating experience« ( traveliteindia.com/guide/state/uttaranchal.asp accessed 2004.08.22). NOTE 9: BASKAR et al. (2005: 1308 item 11) subscribed to these »1545 caves throughout India« after »Deshmukh, M., J. Geol. Soc. India [ISSN 0016-7622 Journal of the Geological Society of India], 1994, 44, 213–217« but there are currently (2011.12.01) registeres are 3190 "caves" in India alone, including 2660 natural caves, 844 rock shelters and 565 "cave temples" (man-made rock temples or groups of rock chambers). NOTE 10: Since BASKAR et al. (2005: 1306) expressively draw attention to the fact that their "caves" are »exposed to light« (read: are without a dark zone) to a degree allowing »photosynthetic activity to take place« we can safely assume the dimensions »10 m long, 2 m wide« are intended to mean something along the lines of up to 10 m broad rock shelters overhanging about 2 m.
Documents
Bibliography 22/05/2016- Baskar, Sushmitha; Baskar, Ramanathan; Mauclaire, L & Mckenzie, J A 2005. Baskar, Sushmitha; Baskar, Ramanathan; Mauclaire, L & Mckenzie, J A 2006. Baskar, Sushmitha; Baskar, Ramanathan; Tewari, Vinod Chandra; Thorseth, Ingunn H; Øvreås, Lise; Lee, Natuschka M & Routh, Joyanto 2011. Bose, S C 1972, 1976, 1979. Carey, W H 1887. Craven, Stephen A 1969. Durrant, G A; Smart, C M; Turner, J E K & Wilson, J M 1979, 1981 Himalaya Underground 1976. Fullarton (a.i.). Hamilton, Alexander 1828. Herbert, James Dowling 1825, 1842. Hodgson, John Anthony 1822. Kubassek, Janos 1981. Lonely Planet, India 1990, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003. Lonely Planet, North India 2001. Price, Liz [Elisabeth] 1988b. Shrivastava, V K 1997. Skinner, Thomas 1832, 1833, 1837. Smith, George 1882. Tewari, Vinod Chandra 2010, 2012; Walton, H G 1911. Wilson, Jane in: Durrant at al 1979 Himalaya Underground 1976 edited 1981.
Histoire
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1818 (±3a): At one stage of the Kumaon survey (1815 to 1821) Captain James Dowling Herbert (1791 - 1835) was told about »Sunsar Dhora, or Dripping Cave« and searched the area but recognised how »in my attempts to find the place I was not successful« (HERBERT, J D 1842: lxxxviii). 1822: Captain John Anthony Hodgson (1777 - 1848) came across another occurrence of calcareous tufa near »the falls of Lohari Naig … Cross the Ganges by the Sangha of Lohari Naig 16 paces long and 25 feet above the [Bhagirathi Ganges] stream, which is here narrow, deep, and has a great fall … The mountains on both sides of the river are very steep. On the left bank of the river observed a rill, impregnated with calcareous matter, which is so abundant as to incrust every thing it touches very strongly, and we collected large pieces of this lime, which is pure, like that at Sansar Dhara -- This is a singular thing in a region of granite« (HODGSON, J A 1822: 76). 1826, late April or 1st of May: Captain Thomas Skinner (1800? - 1843) visited »Sansardhara« (SKINNER, T 1832, 1: 221-222).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | SHIVA, Dehra Dun: Sahastra Dhara (Cave of) | ||
| 0.5 | Sahastradhara (Cave near) (Craven 1969) | ||
| 0.5 | SAHASTRADHARA CAVES | ||
| 6.9 | DOON VIEW CAVE | ||
| 8.4 | Camel's Back Cave (Glennie 1939) [Doon View Cave 3] | ||
| 8.4 | GEOFFREY'S GROTTO | ||
| 8.4 | MUSSORIE RIFT CAVE | ||
| 8.4 | Michael's Cave (Lower) | ||
| 8.4 | Michael's Cave 2 (Upper) |