DARJEELING, Observatory Hill: west side (Cave at)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Two caves or, perhaps, one rock shelter / true cave with two compartments in the micaeous gneiss occurring on Observatory hill (note 1), are not only sacred to Tibetan Buddhists and found on the western side of Observatory Hill (note 2), but also are said to give access to a fabulous tunnel connecting to an unspecified place in Tibet (Lhasa N29°40': E091°10') or, to be precise, somewhere. DOZEY (1916) confirms that there are … two caves on the western side of the hill, the lower and larger one according to tradition leads to Tibet (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1941: The cave is formed of a few gigantic Sikkim gneiss rocks projecting forward. It leads one to a subterranean region, if one would simply take the trouble of crawling down the narrow passage. Inside the cave, there is just sufficient space to allow two persons to take their seats without knocking their heads on the roof of this piece of nature's architecture, which although is an overhanging one, never moved an inch in th last terrible earthquake of 15th January 1934. A devotee who had been there for nearly a year, gave me to understand that he gained entrance with a good deal of hardship into another subterranean region through a cleavage at the remote extremity of the cave (Terry [Terence?] Martin 2002.10.08 personal correspondence after BHANJA 1941). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1997: Observatory Hill -- Situated above the Windamere Hotel, this viewpoint is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. There's a Kali shrine here and the multicoloured flags double as trapezes for the monkeys. Watch out for them as they can be aggressive (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 521). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001: Observatory Hill is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Hindus visit Mahakala Mandir, dedicated to Mahakala [note 4] and located in a small cave down some stairs from the hill (LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 603). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005: … a temple (Map p481) in a small cave, below the crest of the hill, to honour Mahakala … Th summit is marked by several shrines, a plethora of prayer flags and a group of marauding trapeze artists (also known as monkeys)who fly the prayer-filled skies --watch your lunch! A path leading up to the hill starts about 300 m along Bhanu Bhakta Sarani from Chowrasta (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 485-486; location map on page 481). CULTURAL HISTORY - fabulous tunnel: Based on confabulated grounds, BHANJA (1941) assumes that the tradition that states that this cave leads to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is nothing but a tale told by an idiot (Terry [Terence?] Martin 2002.10.08 personal correspondence after BHANJA 1941). last terrible earthquake of 15th January 1934. A devotee who had been there for nearly a year, gave me to understand that he gained entrance with a good deal of hardship into another subterranean region through a cleavage at the remote extremity of the cave (Terry [Terence?] Martin 2002.10.08 personal correspondence after BHANJA 1941). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1997: Observatory Hill -- Situated above the Windamere Hotel, this viewpoint is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. There's a Kali shrine here and the multicoloured flags double as trapezes for the monkeys. Watch out for them as they can be aggressive (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 521). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001: Observatory Hill is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Hindus visit Mahakala Mandir, dedicated to Mahakala [note 4] and located in a small cave down some stairs from the hill (LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 603). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005: … a temple (Map p481) in a small cave, below the crest of the hill, to honour Mahakala … Th summit is marked by several shrines, a plethora of prayer flags and a group of marauding trapeze artists (also known as monkeys)who fly the prayer-filled skies --watch your lunch! A path leading up to the hill starts about 300 m along Bhanu Bhakta Sarani from Chowrasta (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 485-486; location map on page 481). CULTURAL HISTORY - fabulous tunnel: Based on confabulated grounds, BHANJA (1941) assumes that the tradition that states that this cave leads to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is nothing but a tale told by an idiot (Terry [Terence?] Martin 2002.10.08 personal correspondence after BHANJA 1941).