PANGTHA 'CAVE COLONY'

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A deserted cave colony (PRANAVANANDA 1949: 52-53, 106, 154 note 1, illustration 73) lies at a walking distance of 8 km from Sibchilim Mandi and 19.3 km from –>Khyunglung. The troglodyte settlement is excavated from huge conglomerate cliff which rises opposite the confluence of the Sib Chu and Tisum Chu. There are … a few hundred caves, situated about 400 feet [122 m] above the level of the river. They are all now empty and are encrusted with soot. Roughly speaking, the caves are in two terraces [storeys?]. On the upper terrace there is a big monastery belonging to the Sakya Sect (Red Cap Section) . Inside the Gompa there are numerous fresco paintings… When Khyunglung was in a flourishing condition all these caves were occupied both by monks and householders. Even nowadays a few shepards come here for stay in winter and in early spring. The author was given to understand that the monastery was in a flourishing condition between the 13th and 14th century.