TOSHAM CAVERNS

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Unspecified small caverns (size unknown), which occur in the rocky side of the hill, partially filled with water, are considered peculiarly holy pools, and are visited by a number of pilgrims; three -melas,- or religious fairs, being held during the year (McMAHON, C A 1884: 105). SITUATION: The village of Tushám [note 1] is situated about 14 miles [22.5 km] to the north-west of the town of Bhewáni [note 2], and about 85 miles [137 km] west 11° north of Delhi. The village nestles on the eastern side of a low rocky ridge under 2 miles [3.2 km] in length, which, towards its centre, rises to a height of 630 feet [192 m] above the adjoining plain and culminates in a conical hill that forms a striking land mark for 20 miles [32 km] around. The summit is difficult of access and is crowned by the ruins of a small fort, the building of which is popularly attributed to Raja Pithora (McMAHON, C A 1884: 105). GEOLOGY: The eastern flank of Tushám is composed of chiastolite schists, the dip of whic is either vertical, or extremely high west 11° north to west-north-west, and the strike of which ranges from north 5° east, on the north-east extremity, to north-north-east at the south-east end of the outcrop. To the west of these schists there follow pale grey argillaceous beds containing numerous small fragments of quartz, and traversed in all directions by red ferruginous lines. … The centre and western side of the ridge is composed of felsites, or micro-quartz porphyries (McMAHON, C A 1884: 105).CULTURAL HISTORY - epigraphy (rock art): There are three rock inscriptions [note 3] at Tushám which, in General Cunningham's [note 4] opinion, belong to the time of the later Indo-Scythian Princes, and were cut between A.D. 67—69 (McMAHON, C A 1884: 105). is either vertical, or extremely high west 11° north to west-north-west, and the strike of which ranges from north 5° east, on the north-east extremity, to north-north-east at the south-east end of the outcrop. To the west of these schists there follow pale grey argillaceous beds containing numerous small fragments of quartz, and traversed in all directions by red ferruginous lines. … The centre and western side of the ridge is composed of felsites, or micro-quartz porphyries (McMAHON, C A 1884: 105).CULTURAL HISTORY - epigraphy (rock art): There are three rock inscriptions [note 3] at Tushám which, in General Cunningham's [note 4] opinion, belong to the time of the later Indo-Scythian Princes, and were cut between A.D. 67—69 (McMAHON, C A 1884: 105).