SHIKAR CAVE, Bharari
30.000000,80.200000
Description
A natural sacred temple cave, apparently associated with a mother goddess titled, among other names, Majika (note 1), lies close to the summit of Majika Danda (Mother Hill), the so-called »Montagne de Shikar« of DUCLUZAUX (1992a, 1993d: 37-43). SITUATION 1991: Uwe Scherzer (1991.08.18 personal correspondence) was told the cave lies somewhere near a place called »Bhairari« (note 2), some 40 km from Bageshwar (N29°51': E079°46': 975 m asl). SITUATION 1992: In a relatively small valley (note 3) or gully (?), descending south-west (210°) from the summit of Majika Danda, the mountain culminating at 2716 m asl (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 38) south and south-east above the village of »Bharari« (sic! qua: Bhairari) and above the left (east) of the »Saryu« (sic! qua: Sarju) river valley (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 37). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1991: Uwe Scherzer (1991.08.18 personal correspondence) was told that the »Shikar Cave« resembles Patal –>Bubaneshwar (Gangolihat). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1992 (after DUCLUZAUX 1992a: 32, 1992b: 13, 1993d: 37; rough sketch plan after a BCRA grade 2 survey in DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 40): From the north-facing main cave entrance (no size mentioned) descends a flight of steps south-west to a small pool (note 4) on the left-hand side, the "only source of water on the mountain" (DUCLUZAUX193d: 37) and the fine, solitary passage (2 m wide, 5 m high) continues past what appears to be a dry inlet from the right (north-west or north) and a small erected temple (20 m from the cave entrance). About 40 m from the cave entrance the water disappears in impenetrable fissures on the left (south), at 60 m, past a 3 m climb, is an open aven (20 m) or daylight window (a vertical second cave entrance), at circa 70 m a wet inlet from the right (north-west), at circa 90 m a 2m-climb, at circa 100 m a small chamber with pious offerings (note 5) from where only a squeeze continues to a second pool (approximately 120 m and estimated -45 m from the cave entrance) of cold water (no temperature known). CAVE POTENTIAL: From the second pool, the "Christian Terminus" (in French: Arrêt des Françaises), continues a cold (no temperature known) and wet (no amount of flow mentioned) but draughting (air current) 1m-diameter passage descending south. A wetsuit will contribute to increase the current state of knowledge considerably.
NOTE 1: Bruno DUCLUZAUX (1992a, 1993d: 36-43) believed that a rational approach to understanding is achieved simply by blinding out religious aspects. Hence it is no wonder to see how Ducluzaux missed to identify the goddess and consequently failed to recognise that what he understood to be the "montagne de Shikar" actually is the mountain that carries her name, the Majika Danda. NOTE 2: »Bharari« (DUCLUZAUX passim) and »Bherari« (Scherzer 1991.08.18 Mss) is indicated as »Bhairari« near N30°02': E080°10' on AMS sheet NH44-06 Nanda Devi (U502 series, 1958 edition). The small town is accessible by bus (3 hours) from Almora (N29°37': E079°40': 1650 m asl) or from Nainital / Naini Tal (N29°23': E079°27': 1940 m asl) via Bagheshwar (N29°51': E079°46': 975 m asl). NOTE 3: »Une petite vallée de direction N 210° [sic] part du sommet de la montagne de Shikar [sic! for: Majika Danda]« (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 37). NOTE 4: DUCLUZAUX (1993d) does not mention the pool's dimensions or the amount of water flowing, only a legendary and fabulous drainage (DUCLUZAUX 1939d: 36) for one half a year to a certain "Grotte de –>Bharari" and for the other half of the year to another spring (no name mentioned) which is said to be situated two kilometers upstream a gorge (no name mentioned) arriving from somewhere (no direction mention) to join (no place mentioned) the river "Saryu" (the Sarju of the maps) at a spot without identified name. NOTE 5: DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 37) noticed »nombreuses pi`ces de monnaie« (many coins) at the »terminus des explorations hindoues« (the apparent terminus of most local explorers) or »Arrêt des Hindous« (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 40).
Histoire
EXPLORATION HISTORY: The cave is known to local hunters since time immemorial. 1991.08.18: Uwe Scherzer (1991.08.18 personal correspondence) was told by somebody (no informant acknowledged) of a »… certain Shikar Cave, which, resembling Patal Bubaneshwar [see: Patal –>Bhubaneshvar, Gangolihat], is said to be situated somewhere near a place called Bharari, some 40 km from Bageshwar [note 2].« 1992.03.01-14: Bruno DUCLUZAUX (1992a, 1992b, 1993d: 34-48) and Gilles Rousson searched several days.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A1 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A2 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A3 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A4 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A5 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A6 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A7 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A8 (Grotte de) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIKAR A9 (Grotte de) |