JHULAGHAT - PANCHESHWAR STALSCAPE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Many stalactite and stalagmite formations (note 1) in the open air are said to be visible above the banks of the river Kali (Mahakali, Vyas) when rafting from Jhoolaghat / Julaghat (note 2) some 15 km downstream to an unidentified a village (note 3), which lies somewhere upstream from Pancheswar (N29°27': E080°15'). ETYMOLOGY: The Hindi -jhoola- (jhula), literally: swing, is the word for a suspension bridge (note 4). DESCRIPTION: At the bridge over the Kalee at Joolghat … strata of a very pure limestone occupy the bed of the river, and form unexceptionable natural piers for this structure. The dip was N. E. In ascending [note 5], detached masses of compact limestone and conglomerate (enclosing pieces of quartz rock and clay slate) are seen; a good deal of stalagmitic and stalactitic incrustations are noticed, shewing that masses of limestone are doubtless prevalent, though from the nature of the surface not always visible (HERBERT, J D 1842: cxii).Many stalactite and stalagmite formations (note 1) in the open air are said to be visible above the banks of the river Kali (Mahakali, Vyas) when rafting from Jhoolaghat / Julaghat (note 2) some 15 km downstream to an unidentified a village (note 3), which lies somewhere upstream from Pancheswar (N29°27': E080°15'). ETYMOLOGY: The Hindi -jhoola- (jhula), literally: swing, is the word for a suspension bridge (note 4). DESCRIPTION: At the bridge over the Kalee at Joolghat … strata of a very pure limestone occupy the bed of the river, and form unexceptionable natural piers for this structure. The dip was N. E. In ascending [note 5], detached masses of compact limestone and conglomerate (enclosing pieces of quartz rock and clay slate) are seen; a good deal of stalagmitic and stalactitic incrustations are noticed, shewing that masses of limestone are doubtless prevalent, though from the nature of the surface not always visible (HERBERT, J D 1842: cxii).