Mahendra Cave
Mahendra Gupha
Entrance of Mahendra Cave
Map showing the location of Mahendra Cave
Map showing the location of Mahendra Cave
LocationPokhara, Nepal
Coordinates28°16′17″N 83°58′47″E / 28.27139°N 83.97972°E / 28.27139; 83.97972
Length200 m (660 ft)
GeologyPleistocene limestone
Entrances1
AccessTours are available in season
Websitewww.mahendracave.com

Mahendra Cave is a cave located in Pokhara-16,batulechaur, Kaski district, close to the Kali khola,[1] is a large limestone cave. It is a rare example of a cave system in Nepal containing stalagmites and stalactites.[2] This show cave attracts thousands of tourists every year.[3] A statue of Hindu lord Shiva can be found inside the cave.

History

This cave was discovered in the 1950’s by shepherds in Pokhara. The old name of the cave was ‘Adhero Bhawan’ which literally means Dark Habitat. The cave got its name from Late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the then ruler of the country, who immediately visited the place after he read about it in the Newari language newspaper.[4] The cave was named Mahendra after it was officially inaugurated by the then King Mahendra.[5] The cave got rapid attraction after the royal visit and since then it has remained one of the most visited places in Pokhara.[6] It was first properly surveyed in 1976 by a small team of speleologists from the UK including Jane Wilson-Howarth who documented the animals that lived in the dark zone of the cave.[7] Copies of the expedition report are lodged with the UK copyright libraries and at the Royal Geographical Society.

Location

shiv linga inside Mahendra cave

Mahendra Cave is located in the city of Pokhara in the western region of Nepal. It is about 1100 meters above sea level. It has formed in young (Pleistocene) limestone which is overlaid by conglomerates. The cave can be accessed by visitors from the Pokhara Airport within thirty minutes by taxi, one hour by public buses and two hours by foot. From the Prithvi Bus Park, it is ten minutes shorter than from the airport via public vehicles.

Adventure

Bats Sitting in cave walls in Mahendra Cave

The cave corridors are completely dark with continuously dripping water overhead. The cave is formed of limestone, which falls to the ground and continuously forms electrical sparks. Due to the darkness, artificial lighting is provided inside approximately half of the accessible cave.[8] The cave consists of about 100m of easily accessible passages and a further 100m of low unstable corridors entered by way of a collapsed passage only perhaps half a meter high. A survey of the entire cave and lists of the bats and invertebrates living inside are found in the report of the 1976 British cave expedition to the region. There is a Free WIFI in the location for the purpose of promoting the place and knowing the significance of the cave.[9]

Sightseeing near Mahendra cave

Garden at Mahendra Cave

The place where Mahendra cave lies is full of greenery. The grazing horses and mules can frequently be observed in this area. This place lies at the bottom of a hill covered with greenery. Many surrounding hills full of greenery can be observed from here. In the immediate vicinity are two other caves, the Kumari Cave and the Bat Cave. Bat Cave can also be visited by travelling on the trail path just beneath the hills within ten minutes by foot.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Swift, Dusty (2011). Illusions of Enlightenment: A Story about a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal and His Discovery of the Buddhist Teachings. iUniverse. p. 359. ISBN 9781450290654.
  2. ↑ Naresh Chandra Sangal, Prakash Sangal (1998). Glimpses of Nepal: A Brief Compilation of History, Culture, Language, Tradition, Religious Places, Festivals, Mountains, Revers, Safari Parks, Cities, Kathmandu University, and Other Important Informations for Holiday-makers. APH Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 9788170249627.
  3. ↑ "Nepal to boost post-conflict tourism this year". Daily News Online. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Mahendra Cave: Pokhara". nepaltraveller.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  5. ↑ दैनिक, प्रदेश (2020-07-01). "पोखराका घुम्नै पर्ने १० रमणीय स्थलहरु (यसरी बनेको रहेछ तालबाराही र फेवाताल)". Pradesh Dainik. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  6. ↑ "Mahendra cave". Land Nepal. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  7. ↑ "Invertebrates of Nepali caves" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
  8. ↑ "Mahendra cave Adventure".
  9. ↑ Republica. "Enjoy free wi-fi at Mahendra and Chamero Cave in Pokhara". My City. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  10. ↑ "Mahendra cave sightseeing". Archived from the original on 2014-09-29. Retrieved 2014-10-20.
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