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Kashmir Watch Kashmir valley carries evidences of myriad such caves, the identity of many of which remains a great mystery even hundreds of years after they were first discovered Kashmir valley carries evidences of few such caves, the identity of many of which remains a great mystery even hundreds of years after they were first discovered. Who built these caves and for what purpose were they? These are some questions which remain unanswered to this day and are likely to remain a mystery for times to come. Although the land has a very ancient tradition of cave digging, the earlier people used to dig out the under ground caves to provide shelters to their community. Those people have also find out some natural shelter to live in. In early sixties and seventies under ground cave pits were recovered on the plateaus of Burzhama (Srinagar) and Gufkral (Tral). In recent past few caves were identified in Manasbal locality. These discoveries stand well interpreted and their meaning well understood Archaeologists tell us hat such caves served as man made and natural shelters for the earlier habitants of this land. There are other caves attributed to various Hindu deities. Few of these caves are still being worshipped by Hindus while few other caves are believed to have served as meditation sites for various saints of the land. The caves attributed to Hindu deities include the world famous Amarnath Cave, which internally houses the Siva Linga. Hindu pilgrims from far off lands of India visit the cave during the Amarnath Yatra festival. One another cave which really is an archaeological wonder and houses internally five feet high temple is seen at village Bumzu about 65 kms from Srinagar on a plateau on the left bank of river Lidder. It has been carved inside the massive limestone. Who carved it and for what purpose ? is not known. It is locally known as Gufa Mander, Cunningham (Archaeologist) describes it a very olden construction while other archaeologists are attributing it to medieval period and say either Bhimshahi or Queen Didda have raised it. It is only here that temple was built inside the cave which is very much impressive one has to climb a flight of 22 steps from the road to reach to the gate of the cave. There are other two famous caves one at Gufabal (Kulgam) and other at Ashmuqam attributed with celebrated saints of the land Sheikh Noor-ud-Din (RA) and his discipline Sheikh Zain-ud-Din Rishi while the Peer used his cave at Gufabal for attaining the enlightenment of the God, his discipline made his cave as his lost abode. These caves are still extent and visited by devotees of the saints. Apart from these known and well identified caves there are several caves found in Kashmir. The proper identity of which still remains a mystery. One such group of caves is seen in Kupwara in frontier district of the land at Lasthiyal, Kalaroos. These are not natural caves some people have carved them in a proper sequence from the massive time stone. These are in a row and kept uniform in size. No scientific study of these caves has yet been under-taken. Few scholars tried to identify them but their attempts could not help them to give any concrete picture of these caves. However the historian Dr. Fida Muhammad Hasnian has got a view. He says these caves served as the indicators of some major historical events, which might had taken place in this area during ancient periods He emphasizes for a major archaeological survey of the area. Recently, one more prehistoric cave used by some ancient settellers was found in village Hefseermal on the right bank of Nallah Rembara in Pulwama District. This cave has been dug out from a side of low plateau. These all caves found at various places have been left uncared and unpreserved and are in utter ruins ,infect, these caves have to face un cheeked human vandalism , steps are required to be taken to preserve the cave heritage and to explore it for heritage tourism potential. Thanks to archaeological survey of Indian authorities who have been maintaining the Bumzo cave and have been successful not only in its restoration work but also in bringing it in the tourist map of the land. If all other caves are also taken serious, than we can be able to save this heritage.
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