BANDAR DZONG

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 15/07/2016

A gravitational cave which was lost due to a landslide sometime between 1999 and April 2001. The country rock has been identified not only as Upper Crystalline Nappe (FUCHS & FRANK 1970) or as Argillo-arenaceous Unit of the Himalayan Gneiss Zone (ARITA et al. 1982: 12) but also as Phyllonitized Kyanite-Garnet-Biotite-Gneiss (KANO 1982: 37). Anyhow, the micaceous schists are subvertically cleaved and locally dip by 45° westward and straight down to the deep trench cut down by the boiling white waters of Kali Gandaki. Under those circumstances gravitational forces allowed several hundred cubic metres of rock to slide from the steep mountain face leaving a spacious cave behind. The smooth ceiling dipped to the valley and the floor was strewn with huge angular boulders. Ferns and algae grow in the twilight. SITUATION: About halfway between Dana and Ghasa, in the cliff above the right (western) bank of Kali Gandaki river, and upstream of the picturesque waterfall of Ruptse Chhara, from where one has to stay on the right (western) bank of Kali Gandaki, and climb to Titar village (shown on the map "Round Annapurna" by Mandala Maps). From Titar one has to proceed on an exposed trail liable to extensive rockfall, especially during rainy season. The trail to Ghasa passes immediately below the cave. See also –>Bandar Dzong 2.CULTURAL HISTORY: Bandar Dzong (in Thakkali = "Monkey fortress") is also called Bandardzongjurbir Odar (Nepali = "Refuge in the steep Bandar Dzong cliff") and Bahardurjungbhir Odar. The cave is said to once have been the resting-place of the Thakkali ancestors during their search for a new place to live (BURGI RHAB, s.a. in: VINDING 1992: 85).