ISTRIPURA CAVE, Pannala

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A south-west facing gash (DERANIYAGALA 1956: 118) or relatively large opening (SIFFRE 1975: 29) is or, perhaps, had been the -large- entrance (unidentified dimensions) to one of the largest known caves of Sri Lanka (note 1). According to Brooks (1995 Mss item No 28), the so-called Istripura Cave/cavern (No 2) is said to be now (since 1984) a completely flooded cave submerged in the waters of the Victoria Dam Reservoir (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: SIFFRE (1975: 18, 29) renders the French grotte d'Istripura (Istripura Cave) to mean grotte de la femme morte (cave of the dead woman). According to WILSON (1988: 22), however, Istripura … translates as City of Women for, according to legend each of the numerous interconnected large chambers was the private home of one of the wives of an ogre [raksha? yakka?] who maintained a vast harem. The Istripura cave near the village of Pannala II (note 3) is occasionally confused with one of the other Istripura caves (note 4) and distinguished by relating it more often than not, to more or less nearby populated places, a stream or the name of a toposheet: 2 = Istripura AELLEN et al (2001: 1977 fig. 1) Femme Morte, grotte de la SIFFRE (1975: 18) Istripura, Aruk vatta (note 5) DERANIYAGALA (1956) Istripura Cave COORAY (1967: 97); Eckrich, M. (1984 Mss: Bat cave distribution map); MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 183) Istripura cave, 2nd CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 240-241; 1983: 242-243) Istripura Cave/Cavern (No 2) Brooks (1995 Mss, no. 28) Istripura Cave (femme morte, grotte de la) SIFFRE (1975: 18) Istripura Cave, Hanguranketa (note 6) AELLEN et al. (2001: 1977) Istripura cave, second CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 240-241; 1983: 242-243) Istripura gal-lena (cave) DERANIYAGALA (1965: 144 figure 21) Istripura-gal-lena DERANIYAGALA (1965: 143) Istripura (Pamula), grotte de SIFFRE (1975: 29) Istripura (Pannala) DERANIYAGALA (1958); COURBON & CHABERT (1986: 81; 1989: 138); STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) SITUATION 1956: DERANIYAGALA (1956: 117-118; with locaton map) positions Istripura cave near Aruk vatta and near N07°10'30-: E080°53'30- (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830) or about 8 miles (13 km) in a direct line to north-east of Vävakälé or Wewakele (note 7) near Kumbulgamuva or Kumbalgamuwa (note 8) on the road from Mulhalkele (N07°05'47”: E080°51'34” WGS84) to Kandy (N07°17'47”: E080°38'06” (WGS84): The cave itself is about 1.5 miles [2.4 km] south of the bend of the Mahavili [Mahaveli] river … and on the side of a hill between two tributaries of this river, the larger of which is the Kurunda oya [note 9]. The limestone cave occurs about 75 ft. [23 m] above the plain, between the 900 and 800 foot [244 m and 274 m] contours on the west side of the hill, as a long gash running north-west and south-east, where the side of the mountain seems to have collapsed into what was originally a subterranean passage. SITUATION 1961: SIFFRE (1975: 18) gives a photograph of people wading a small stream (much smaller than te Mahaveli Gange) but titled Traversée du Mahaveli Ganga, sur la route d'Istripura Cave, avec mes porteurs indigènes (traversing with my indigenous porters the Mahaveli Ganga on the way to Istripura Cave). SIFFRE (1975: 19 top) gives a photograph of which the legend on page 18 explains that it took him more than two hours to cover the chemin à la machete (machete foot path). SIFFRE (1975: 19 bottom) gives a photograph of which the legend on page 18 explains that the entrance is difficult to find because of the vegetation. SIFFRE (1975: 29) located grotte d'Istripura in the centre de Ceylan near one village of Pamula (sic! qua: Pannala) in Nuwora-Elya (sic! qua: Nuwara Eliya). The entrance had been reached by walking from the village downhill to paddy fields in a valley where a waist-deep stream was forded and a machete had been used to clear a path (note 10). SITUATION 1970: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459): Près de Pannala. Carte: Hanguranketa. SITUATION 1974: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974 240-241; 1983: 242-243) places the second Istripura cave north of the village Pannala (28 km south-east of Kandy) which lies some 2.5 km south of the deep bend of the river Mahaveli Ganga and about halfway between Victoria Falls (N07°14'11”: E080°47'17” WGS84) and Minipe (N07°13': E080°59'). SITUATION 1986: MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 183) locate Istripura Cave in a fairly fabricated Kandy and Adam's Peak district. POSITIONS: Unspecified geodetic datum (probably Everest 1830 spheroid): N07°10'30-: E080°53'30-: 260 m asl DERANIYAGALA, P E P (1956: 117, 118) N07°10' : E080°53'30-: 610 m asl CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 240; 1983: 242) N07°10' : E080°53'30- SIFFRE (1975: 28) N07°09'56”: E080°53'34”: 240 m asl STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) 7'10- N 80'53.5- E Brooks (1995 Mss, item No 28). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1956: DERANIYAGALA, P E P (1956: 118, plate 1, figures 1-9), DERANIYAGALA (1958) and CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 240-241; 1983: 242-243): The limestone cave occurs aout 75 ft. [23 m] above the plain, between the 900 and 800 foot [244 and 274 m] contours on the west side of the hill, as a long gash running north-west and south-east, where the side of the mountain seems to have collapsed into what was originally a subterranean passage. The part that has collapsed forms an ante-chamber about 100 yards long [some 90 m] and about 15 yards [13.7 m] high (Plate 1, figs. 1, 2) and its floor is about 20 feet [6 m] below the surface of the mountainside (Pl. 1, fig. 2). The debris has been more or less washed away, and in the course of time the flow of water appears to have been diverted to newer and deeper channels (Pl. 1, figs. 6, 7, 8). The connection between them is a narrow passage about two feet [0.6 m] in diameter (Pl. 1, fig. 3) which [was dynamited to enlarge it (DERANIYAGALA 1956: 118) and] descends steeply and enlarges after about ten feet [3 m], when it is almost possible for the investigator to walk upright for about 100 yards (Pl. 1, fig. 4). t then narrows down again and descends into a large subterranean chamber covered with stalagmitic deposits (Pl. 1, figs. 5, 6) about 30 feet [9 m] or 40 feet [12 m] below the level of the floor of the external ante-chamber. Beyond it is a lake about 120 yards [110 m] long and about 50 yards [45 m] wide, which is about 20 feet [5.5 m] deep in places (figs. 7, 8). This chamber ramifies into various passages where the air is so deficient in oxygen that the observer is attacked by a faint sense of dizziness after a couple of hours; in the further passages this deficiency is even more marked (Pl. 1, fig. 7). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1961: SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) was shown a large cave entrance (no size mentioned), which was almost invisible due to vegetation, and nearly impenetrable because of creepers interlaced to a degree forming a wall. In many places the cave floor is covered with guano in remarkable thickness. The walls and ceilings are marked with 1 m-diameter scallops while a lake contains purid water. Beyond the lake and beneath a low vault, the cave passage regains comfortable dimensions and contains good calcite formations, including large stalagmites covered with micro-gours. The rock exposed on the cave walls and ceiling consists of partly very pure and partly impure crystalline limestone with mica and gneissic interstratifications (note 11). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1971: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459): A large and dimly lit entrance chamber gives access to a narrow cave passage, which descends into a cave chamber containing -decorations- (speleothems) and bat guano. Beyond a constriction lies yet another cave chamber, where a shallow pool of water covers almost the entire floor (note 12). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1974: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243): This extensive cavern, which is at an elevation of just under 2000 feet [610 m], is festooned with stalagmite. The subterranean monster, which contains, among other things, a large lake, is 400 feet [about 120 m] or so in lengh —certainly one of the longest in the country. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1995: BROOKS (1995 personal correspondence, item no. 28: Istripura Cave / Cavern no. 2) summarises DERANIYAGALA, P E P (1955b: 301). CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: DERANIYAGALA (1956: 117) reports from Istripura cave … the first discovery of fossilized shells and bones consolidated into a breccia-like mass by travertine in a cave deposit (note 13). DERANIYAGALA (1956: 118) explains that examination of the shelving ledges around the lake revealed two unpitted pebbles as large as a man's fist, which had apparently been brought in by man from the river deposits outside and employed as hammer stones. Potsherds with a mat basket as well as wicker work impressions externally were also found. The most interesting discovery however was made when the sides of the narrow entrance in the floor of the ante-chamber was dynamited to enlarge it, for embedded in the fragments were quartz flakes, the result of human workmanship, charcal, shells of two species of the water snails Paludomus Swainson and one species of tree snail Acavus Montfort (Pl. 2, fig. 2) and mammalian bones some of which were bovines such as buffalo or gaur, sambhur and axis deer, and jaws of the monkey Presbytis entellus thersites Blyth (Pl. 2, figs. 5, 6). The almost vertical position of this compacted ossiferous layer indicates strong tilting of the original floor, probably as a result of subsidence, which in turn appears to have been caused mainly by the caving in of beds underground by subterraneous stream action. The deposit that accumulated subsequently was loose earth that covered the new floor surface to a depth of three feet and this too contained charcoal, quartz flakes, animal bones and shells of aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal snails. The completeness of the jaws and their association with both aquatic and arboreal snails as well as with quartz chips and charcoal, indicate that they are the result of human habitation and not dueto carcasses that were brought in by carnivores. SPELEOMETRY: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243) regards the Istripura Cave (Pannala) as one of the largest caves of the island. SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) estimates that grotte d'Istripura, près d'Pamula is more than an estimated 600 m long. COURBON & CHABERT (1989: 81) confirm that M. Siffre … attribue 600 m de dévelopment à Istripura (Pannala) and took the apparently erroneous statement of STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459), according to which Istri-gal-lena (Welimada) (an alternative name for –>Istripura Cave, Welimada) is 600 m également long (note 14). According to MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 182), … dense rain forest makes exploration difficult, but in the Kandy and Adam's Peak district [note 15] there are many known caves (Istripura Cave, 600 m long) and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) recorded temperatures: 23.5°C in the air of the entrance chamber; 25.5°C in the air and 25°C in the water of small gour pols in the 2nd, decorated chamber; 27°C both in the air and in the water of the -Lake Chamber- (the third). CAVE LIFE: In 1961, SIFFRE (1975: 29) had observed swimming bats (Chiroptera) and noticed numerous -giant spiders- (Tarantula palmata), allegedly 20 cm to 30 cm in diameter. STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) collected toads (Bufo melanostictus Schneider), bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideros sp.), spiders (identified by BRIGNOLI 1972), Amblypyges, Orthoptera, Hemiptera (identified by VILLIERS 1970), Diptera and Coleoptera.to carcasses that were brought in by carnivores. SPELEOMETRY: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243) regards the Istripura Cave (Pannala) as one of the largest caves of the island. SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) estimates that grotte d'Istripura, près d'Pamula is more than an estimated 600 m long. COURBON & CHABERT (1989: 81) confirm that M. Siffre … attribue 600 m de dévelopment à Istripura (Pannala) and took the apparently erroneous statement of STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459), according to which Istri-gal-lena (Welimada) (an alternative name for –>Istripura Cave, Welimada) is 600 m également long (note 14). According to MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 182), … dense rain forest makes exploration difficult, but in the Kandy and Adam's Peak district [note 15] there are many known caves (Istripura Cave, 600 m long) and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) recorded temperatures: 23.5°C in the air of the entrance chamber; 25.5°C in the air and 25°C in the water of small gour poto carcasses that were brought in by carnivores. SPELEOMETRY: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243) regards the Istripura Cave (Pannala) as one of the largest caves of the island. SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) estimates that grotte d'Istripura, près d'Pamula is more than an estimated 600 m long. COURBON & CHABERT (1989: 81) confirm that M. Siffre … attribue 600 m de dévelopment à Istripura (Pannala) and took the apparently erroneous statement of STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459), according to which Istri-gal-lena (Welimada) (an alternative name for –>Istripura Cave, Welimada) is 600 m également long (note 14). According to MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 182), … dense rain forest makes exploration difficult, but in the Kandy and Adam's Peak district [note 15] there are many known caves (Istripura Cave, 600 m long) and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) recorded temperatures: 23.5°C in the air of the entrance chamber; 25.5°C in the air and 25°C in the water of small gour poto carcasses that were brought in by carnivores. SPELEOMETRY: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243) regards the Istripura Cave (Pannala) as one of the largest caves of the island. SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) estimates that grotte d'Istripura, près d'Pamula is more than an estimated 600 m long. COURBON & CHABERT (1989: 81) confirm that M. Siffre … attribue 600 m de dévelopment à Istripura (Pannala) and took the apparently erroneous statement of STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459), according to which Istri-gal-lena (Welimada) (an alternative name for –>Istripura Cave, Welimada) is 600 m également long (note 14). According to MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 182), … dense rain forest makes exploration difficult, but in the Kandy and Adam's Peak district [note 15] there are many known caves (Istripura Cave, 600 m long) and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) recorded temperatures: 23.5°C in the air of the entrance chamber; 25.5°C in the air and 25°C in the water of small gour poto carcasses that were brought in by carnivores. SPELEOMETRY: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243) regards the Istripura Cave (Pannala) as one of the largest caves of the island. SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) estimates that grotte d'Istripura, près d'Pamula is more than an estimated 600 m long. COURBON & CHABERT (1989: 81) confirm that M. Siffre … attribue 600 m de dévelopment à Istripura (Pannala) and took the apparently erroneous statement of STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459), according to which Istri-gal-lena (Welimada) (an alternative name for –>Istripura Cave, Welimada) is 600 m également long (note 14). According to MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 182), … dense rain forest makes exploration difficult, but in the Kandy and Adam's Peak district [note 15] there are many known caves (Istripura Cave, 600 m long) and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) recorded temperatures: 23.5°C in the air of the entrance chamber; 25.5°C in the air and 25°C in the water of small gour poto carcasses that were brought in by carnivores. SPELEOMETRY: CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 241; 1983: 243) regards the Istripura Cave (Pannala) as one of the largest caves of the island. SIFFRE (1975: 29-30) estimates that grotte d'Istripura, près d'Pamula is more than an estimated 600 m long. COURBON & CHABERT (1989: 81) confirm that M. Siffre … attribue 600 m de dévelopment à Istripura (Pannala) and took the apparently erroneous statement of STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459), according to which Istri-gal-lena (Welimada) (an alternative name for –>Istripura Cave, Welimada) is 600 m également long (note 14). According to MIDDLETON & WALTHAM (1986: 182), … dense rain forest makes exploration difficult, but in the Kandy and Adam's Peak district [note 15] there are many known caves (Istripura Cave, 600 m long) and that's it. CAVE CLIMATE: STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) recorded temperatures: 23.5°C in the air of the entrance chamber; 25.5°C in the air and 25°C in the water of small gour pols in the 2nd, decorated chamber; 27°C both in the air and in the water of the -Lake Chamber- (the third). CAVE LIFE: In 1961, SIFFRE (1975: 29) had observed swimming bats (Chiroptera) and noticed numerous -giant spiders- (Tarantula palmata), allegedly 20 cm to 30 cm in diameter. STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) collected toads (Bufo melanostictus Schneider), bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideros sp.), spiders (identified by BRIGNOLI 1972), Amblypyges, Orthoptera, Hemiptera (identified by VILLIERS 1970), Diptera and Coleoptera.