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Shri Ashtapad Maha Tirth - II
The deeply incised glaciated basins around Kailash are the outcome of prolonged glacier action. We have the direct evidence of extensive glaciers in the region in the form of lateral moraines suggesting that glaciers then were more extensive compared to present. Once the glacial climate initiated in the Kailash area, various glaciogenic features such as Arete, Horn, truncated spurs, Table land topography, Grooves and Protrusions (differential erosion) were developed. These features were mistaken for man-made features. There are man-made features such as the caves at around 5900m in Kailash and the abandoned settlements on the curvilinear ridge above Gyangdrag Gompa. The former looks to be recent whereas the latter goes back to the historical period. A firmer statement to this can be made once these structures are investigated by the geo-archaeologists, preferably having expertise on mountain archaeology. Though not visited this time, however, it would be worth investigating the ruins and the innumerable caves made in the sediments deposited by the Sutlej River around the Sib Chu gorge (Tsaprang / Tolling Math area). This region has the preserved ruins of the Guge Kingdom implying that one of the ancient civilizations lived in this part of western Tibet. Also this was one of the most frequented routes to the Kailash Mountain. Currently the region is occupied by people belonging to the Bon Po faith. Acknowledgement We are grateful to the Jain Center of America, NY for giving us the opportunity to undertake this study in the Kailash Mansarovar area. The financial support given by Shrut Ratnakar, Ahmedabad is duly acknowledged. All the team members extended their cooperation during this investigation. The author would like to express his gratitude towards Kaji Sherpa, as without his assistance, it would have not been possible for him to investigate the caves at 5900m below the Kailash peak. References Cited http://www.yogashramrishikesh.com/mansrovar.htm. Embleton and A.M.C. Edward King (1969). Glacial and Periglacial geomorphology, Arnold Publisher, UK, pp. 581. Gansser (1964). Geology of the Himalaya, Interscience Publishers, John Wiley and Sons, London, pp. 279. Bharat Shah Ashtapad Model Vol II Shri Ashtapadji - A Possibility pg- 406-413. P.S. Thakker. (2006). Locating Probable unexplored archaeological site of Ashtapad near Kailash in Tibet using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Data, Ashtapad Model, Vol. 10, pp. 4550-455. P.S. Thakker. (2006). Field expedition to explore archaeological site of Ashtapad near Mount Kailash, Tibet using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Data, Ashtapad Model, Vol. 10, pp. 4587-4598.
Geological investigation of rock sculptures...
