Dandak Cave, Kanger Valley

Dandak Cave

(A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction
 

Bastar is the king of adventures, king of thrill in Chhattisgarh. Bastar is the home of some of the most exotic destinations of Central India and can provide some of the most virgin endeavours on most spellbinding terrains of Central India, one such place is Dandak Cave which comes in the kotumsar sub-range of forest at Kanger Valley National Park.

 

Pic showing the guide and Mr. Ashish Gadpale standing just infront of cave mouth

 

 

Figure showing textbook example of Cave Pop-corn 

Where and How to reach?
 

Dandak Cave comes in the Kanger Valley National Park area, whose entrance(Kanger Valley barrier) is  nearly 26 kms from Divisional Head Quarter Jagdalpur on Jagdalpur-Hyderabad Highway (NH-221). Its nealy 326 kms from C.G State capital Raipur, nearly 326 kms from Vishakapatnam. The nearest railway station is Jagdalpur. The nearest airport is Raipur. Jagdalpur is one of the premium destinations for tourists as it offers exciting tour packages for tourists all round Central India. There are numerous luxurious hotels and motels in Jagdalpur which provide such packages.

Way to Kanger Valley

Being in Dandak Cave:

Dandak is one of the most well-maintained cave of Kanger Valley National Park, as the curious tourist will surely get the textbook examples of every cavern structures. Here just after the cave we can see the helictites, followed by the classic examples of soda straws on the opposite wall of helictite.

Going few feets down, the narrow entrance opens into a large chamber showing exotic examples of flowstones in a couple of dripstones. This chamber is as big as it can hold more than 500 tourists at a single
span of time. On one of the adjacent wall nearby, we can see a very very narrow entrance for the second chamber series of cave. 

Figure showing developed Stalagmite



Pic showing broken Stalactite (behind the author)



Way to Second chamber series

The second chamber series of this cave has ultimate narrow entrance but opens into a big room performing a beautiful play of stalactites, stalagmites and few rare textbook examples of cave popcorns  and soda straws with a central large stalagmite and stalactite. Here this stalagmite seems like to have grown from a 70 feet deep sinkhole which is just next to this central stalagmite. Going further forward,we can see many small chambers, some are inter-connected while some possess dead ends, but on the whole all the chambers were having dead end after few feet. 

Addition to its Importance:

This cave is one of the favourite spot for researchers as this cave provides a perfect climate for researchers to read the palaeo and present climate on the basis of living fauna and fossils. Dr. Jayant Biswas, Founder and President of "National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India" has published a lot of research papers some of which has been published in some of the most reputed publishing houses of world like Speleologija(1) e.t.c. He has worked a lot for cave-biology. On the basis of fauna found here, he has named cave fauna as cavernicoles (cave organisms) and divided them into three types :


(A) Troglobites: Species which live wholly and permanently in the dark zone of caves. Mostly are albinic because camouflage colouring is of no use.

(B) Troglophiles: Species which live permanently in the dark zone, some of which can live in a suitable habitat away from the cave.

(C) Trogloxene: Species which visit or take shelter but do not complete their whole life cycle in caves. They go to the outer world periodically for some requirements, usually food. Further it can be divided as accidental trogloxene and habitual trogloxene. The affix terminology is sufficient to recongnize them.(2)

Found Species:
Arthropods- Armadillidium sp.,Diplopoda.
Molluscs: Opeas sp.
Amphibian: Hydrophylax malabaricus.
 

 

Pic showing a frog dwelling inside Dandak cave 

 The cave has got its name after the division’s ancient name “Dandkaaranya”. Dandak was a demon who got cursed by a teacher (sage) of demons “Shankaracharya” and got his kingdom turned into dense forest within a fraction of time along with himself.

This cave is known for its most spectacular show of speleothems formations with some outstanding example of fauna which likes to live inside cave only. This phenomenon has given this cave special attention and preference among the researchers to deeply analyze the palaeo and current climate of the cave.

Conclusion:

This cave proves to be one of the most promising cave for cave researchers and speleologists. And for young guns, this cave is an ideal example for reading textbook examples of cavern structures.

Reference:
(1) http://www.speleologija.hr/indija09/index.html
(2) http://www.cave-biology.org/

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Bhainsa-Darha, the heaven of kanger valley

Bhainsa-Darha
(By Jitendra Nakka)

Inroduction

There are three national parks in Chhattisgarh. Among these three,the most beautiful one is Kanger Valley National Park. Having spread up to 200 sq. km, the best part of this park is its geological formations. This park is the home of some of the most exotic, spellbound, virgin caves of Central India. This park is the home of one of the most mesmerizing natural habitat of crocodiles and tortoises. This park is the home of BHAINSA DARHA.

                                          Fig: Bhainsa-Darha lake      pic by: Mr. Mukesh Patel

Where and How to Reach?

Bhaina-Darha is approachable from two ways:

The first one is from Kailash Cave road i.e. after reaching Kailash Cave Barrier, we have to travel 29 kms more on a unmetalled road in order to reach Bhainsa-Darha. The metalled one straight away goes to Kailash Cave after 6 kms.

                  Figure showing way to Bhainsa-Darha from Chainkoor Barrier(Kailash Cave Barrier)

The second way is from Gupteshwar i.e. from Jagdalpur to Gupteshwar(NH-30 route) it covers nearly 57 kms. From Gupteshwar, again you have to be in Machkote forest road itself and cover 12 kms more to
Koleng Sub-range of forest in order to reach Bhainsa-Darha.

                             Picture showing the location of Bhainsa-Darha (Extreme South-East)                                                           Courtsey: www.mapsofindia.com

For the ease of tourist, there are a lot of hotels in Jagdalpur providing cozy lodging and boarding and can provide some of the most exciting tourist packages all over in Central India. In addition to this, Govt. has also established motels and rest houses of CG Tourism Board and District Forest Department in the Head Quarter of Bastar.

The best time to visit this marvel is during winters to the start of summers.

Being at Bhainsa-Darha……
Having an extent up to 4 hectare of land on the Kanger River, Bhainsa-Darha is actually a natural lake famous as the natural habitat of Crocodiles and tortoises in Chhattisgarh. The area comes under the Koleng sub-range of forest which comes in between extent of Machkote range of forest and Kanger Valley National Park.

Being at Bhainsa-Darha feels like heaven. It’s like paradise appeared on earth. The whole place is covered by lush green forest of bamboo, where the inclination and bending of the tall bamboo tress over the lake, seems like the whole creation is bowing their head on the feet of GOD for creating such marvel. After covering a large distance and travelling all over valley,

Kanger River slows down before reaching Bhainsa-Darha. Here the water appears very calm and quite with hardly any movement of wild creatures nearby. But really if you wanna see them alive with a lot of moves, do take little amount of fish or ducks/gooses in order to offer as prey. Then only you will find the best moments of your journey and destination.

The known depth of this lake is 20 meters, so it is not advisable to go down and have some water sports. After covering some distance more, the beautiful Kanger River merges to river Shabari (Kolab) and puts an end of the journey of this beautiful valley.

Conclusion:
As this place, Bhainsa-Darha, comes between Machkote range of Forest and Kanger Valley Natinal Park, you can make one combined package and can enjoy the whole lush green dense forest beauty of Bastar.   

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Gupteshwar- A Cave Shrine

Gupteshwar – A Cave temple
(A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction
Chhattisgarh is full of surprises, and so the state of Orissa too. Chhattisgarh shares many relations with Orissa, whether it may be of geographical extent, geological extent, mineralogical extent, whether may be of art and culture, whether may be of sculpture and temples, whether may be of customs and traditions, lot of things are mutual in them. Even they share some common tourist places also. One such common but one of the most exotic tourist place of Chhattisgarh and Orissa is Gupteshwar.

                                                Gupteshwar- The Abode of Lord Shiva

Where and How to Reach?

Gupteshwar is approachable from two ways:

(1)    NH-30: Jagdalpur lies on the middle of Raipur-Vishakapatnam Highway. From Jagdalpur, we have to travel upto 22 kms more to reach the village called Dhanpunji(which is the last village of Chhattisgarh border). From Dhanpunji, there is a well-made metalled road(pakka road) which last upto railway crossing, after which our journey continues with unmetalled  road(kachcha road) upto 23 kms more, reaching a beautiful confluence of Machkote-Tiriya Sangam. After reaching Machkote, we have to travel on a dozen of kilometers more to reach our final destination near the bank of Shabari river called Gupteshwar.

                                        Figure showing location of Gupteshwar(South-East of Map)
 

                           Figure showing the exotic Machkote range of Forest(Bastar, Chhattisgarh)
                                           
 (2)    Jeypore Road: Another way to this marvel comes from Jeypore road. From Jeypore, this exotic site is nearly 55 kms away to the bank of Shabari river(also called as Kolab river in Orissa). Gupteshwar is a premium tourist site which lies in the Koraput District of Orissa. As for the ease of tourists, there is one comfortable rest house in Gupteshwar, with a good boarding and lodging. As OSRTC is doing excellent work in Orissa, reaching each and every corners of the state, we can enjoy our tour from state bus service also. If at all, any tourist opts Jagdalpur as a boarding centre by road (i.e. by NH), this place is nearly 120 km from Jagdalpur. Infact Jagdalpur is the most suitable and premium boarding and lodging destination for visiting any place nearby. For the ease of tourist, there are a lot of exotic hotels & motels providing cozy boarding and some great tourist packages all over Central and South-East India.

Salient Features of Gupteshwar:

Gupteshwar is actually a cave-shrine, an abode of Lord Shiva. But if you wanna make it upto here from Jagdalpur, you have to cover the lush green and dense forest of Machkote range of Forest of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. Along the whole way, you can see a lot of flora and fauna, which will make your journey more thrilling at the time of returning back. Gupteshwar is actually a combination of different scenic spots
where the bank of Shabari(Kolab) river from either of the sides, the waterfall along the flow and the cave temple are most worth seeing.

 

Figure showing the exotic lush green forest of Machkote Range(Bastar, Chhhattisgarh)

 After reaching Gupteshwar from Machkote, we can see the gigantic stromatolitic dolomites covering the whole path of river flow. As the area is a kind of undulating site, there is a high gradient of river flow, cutting down the stromatolitic dolomite rocks and creating crocodile-skin weathering on their surface. Due to the display of this typical weathering on the rocks from both the banks, this place has got a fierce look and appears difficult to cross the river. But this is just a prejudice of a tourist; the rocks are spaced near to each other with the help of which, one can cross the river and can reach the cave shrine.After the bank, we have to walk over nearly 200 feet more to reach the market line of the place. Actually just in front of the temple, there are few small shops/hotels from where you can take materials of your interest and fill your appetite.

 

Figure showing the extent of Stromatolitic Dolomite rock at the bank of river Shabari(Kolab)

Just to the right of this market, lies the a road junction, from where going straight will lead to cave temple of
Gupteshwar and taking right will lead to the cave series of Gupteshwar. After reaching the front gate of Temple, you have to climb up near around 300 stairs to reach the entrance of this cave. The stairs after entrance takes you down to the centrally placed Shivling of near about 1.5m high.

                                                             Fig: Gupteshwar Temple

                            Figure showing the Centrally Placed Shivling at Gupteshwar Cave Temple

                     Figure showing the growth of Stalactites on the inner chambers of Gupteshwar temple

 One more way to the left of this shivling leads to the next chambers of this cave which add more beauty to this worth seeing cave shrine. The next chamber is comparatively larger than the adjacent chambers nearby. After walking nearly more than 20 feet, the slope of this chamber increases gradually with a sharp, wet and muddy surface leads you to a subordinate chamber having a dead end on its other end. The whole cave displays a beautiful play of stalactites and stalagmites somewhere developed, somewhere budding. But this is not the end of your destination, your journey; you have to walk back to the junction to reach the actual cave series of Gupteshwar.

Here, there are there are two caves, one of which has a narrow entrance, but, is very high in altitude. The later one is wider in comparison to the former one. The later cave is very worth seeing but lacks in proper display of stalactites and stalagmites. The central chamber of this cave leads to a minor chamber which is very small, nearly of 12feets of length, and 2 meters of height and width and leads to a dead end.

                             Figure showing the mouth of one cave of the Cave series of Gupteshwar

                             Figure showing the mouth of one cave of the Cave series of Guteshwar


Mythological and Religious Importance:
This place holds much importance for Hindu devotees, as this place is a divine shrine and abode of Lord Shiva. This place faces a gigantic crowd of devotees, worshippers and followers at the time of “Maha-Shiv Ratri”. People from all part of India reach here to bow their heads and receive blessings from Lord Shiva, the almighty.

                                         Figure showing followers moving ahead to Gupteshwar

                                                       Fig: Followers crossing river Kolab

                            Figure showing the scenic view of bank of river Shabari at Gupteshwar

 Mythologically, it is believed that Gupteshwar means “hidden GOD”. It is believed that Lord Ram, during his exile of 14 years reached Dandakaaranya forest and first found this shivling hidden in this cave. He was the first person to worship on this cave. The nearby mountain is called as “Ramgiri”. Kalidasa in his famous creation “Meghadoot” has also depicted the beauty of this beautiful mountain of Ramgiri.

Conclusion:

This place is one of the most important pilgrim of South-East Central India and shares equal importance from both Orissa and Chhattisgarh and one of the most important tourist and study site for researchers (speleologists).  

   

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