RUPNATH GUMPHA, Jabalpur - Bahuriband
23.683300,80.066700
Description
A natural sacred cave (temple cave) consisting of a »cleft in the face of a rock« and housing a famous Shiva lingam (possibly a stalagmite speleothem) dedicated to »Rupnath« (NELSON 1909) or »Roopnath« (note 1). SITUATION: »About 3 miles [5 km] from Bahuriband [note 2] and about 19 miles [31 km] from Sihora railway station [note 3] … where the Bandarchua nala [note 4] pours over the face of the Kaimur range of hills« (NELSON 1909) Compare the –>Bandarchua nala pools. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1909: »Rupnath […] is the name of a famous linga of Shiva which is placed in the cleft of a rock […]. Mr. Cousens [not identified: H. COUSENS?] remarks that the general appearance of the country around would hardly prepare one to find such a wild forsaken nook, a perfect chaos of rocks and pools, overshadowed by rugged precipices 50 to 60 feet [about 15 to 18 m] high, in whose clefts and caves wild beasts find a quiet refuge« (NELSON 1909: 377). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1969: »Another cave is near Rupnath, 19 miles from Sihora station, described as a perfect chaos of rocks and pools overshadowed by rugged precipices, 50 feet to 60 feet high, in whose clefts and caverns wild beasts find a quiet refuge« (CRAVEN 1969).
NOTE 1:Among the places in the vicinity of Jabalpur, where a decent tourist has to photograph his family members, MADHYA PRADESH STATE, Tourist Development Corporation (1999 November: Marble Rocks, Bhedaghat Jabalpur: An awesome spectacle of nature) lists one »Roopnath« (the same?) without further notice. NOTE 3: Bahuriband N23°40': E080°04' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) is reached from Sihora by travelling about 15 miles (24 km) along a road (the first 5 km north-west towards Murwara but off to the left (initially north, later north-west) at a juction, from where another 11 miles (18 km) leads to Bahuriband. NOTE 4: Sihora Road (railway station at N23°28': E080°06') lies a kilometer or two south of the village of Sihora (N23°29': E080°07') and at a travelling distance of 42 km north-east of Jabalpur (N23°10': E079°57'). NOTE 5: The connection with the Bandarchua nala is problematic insofar as it is not shown on AMS sheet NF44-02 Jubbulpore (U502 series, 1962 edition) or on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 55 H4) while the only place called Bandarchua (N22°41': E083°51') listed on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) lies 400 km in a direct line ESE of Bahuriband.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32.5 | JHINJHARI SHELTERS | ||
| 78.7 | PANDVAN SHELTER 2 | ||
| 92.7 | PUTARIHAU GHATI SHELTER | ||
| 95.3 | BADI GUFA, Bandhavgarh | ||
| 97.1 | PANDVAN SHELTER 1 | ||
| 100.1 | BANDHAVGHAR BAT CAVE (Caves at) | ||
| 112.2 | Lalpahar (Cave on the) | ||
| 117.5 | MAJPAHAR SHELTER | ||
| 117.5 | KUNJVAN SHELTER |