Friday, February 26, 2010

CM’S HIKE TO TOP OF VAIBHARA HILL

Saptaparni Cave- (Lat- 25° 00’ 37.20”, N, Long- 85° 24’. 43.81” E)

The morning of 28th December found CM walking all way to the top of the Vaibhara hill. The one hour hike to the top of Vaibhara hill was laden with scared spots for many faiths including Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. From top the view was clear and the CM was able to observe many important sites situated at the base of the hill. He also got the bird’s eye view of Ashokan relic stupa and Ajatsatru new fort. Since the Vaibhara hill at the time of Xuanzang and fahien was a dense bamboo forest, CM instigated that the complete hill be restored to a bamboo forest and instructed the forest officer to sow the seeds for the same this following season. The access path to Vaibhara hill in its crumbling state received attention and is now on its way for the necessary repair work. On the top of the hill, there is an ancient temple from gupta period, CM was stunned by the dilapidated state of such valuable piece of history and culture and assured a facelift of the temple.
Picture 1: Climbing the Vaibhara Hill

The Saptaparni on the top of Vaibhara hill is the site as identified by Beglar, the one identified by Marshal is at the foot of the hill. CM saw the other Saptaparni site up close through binoculars.

Picture 2: At Saptapanni
In the list of suggestions to his team to explore further was the idea that the complete Vaibhara hill and the base of the foothill be developed as a bamboo grove.


Picture 3: CM greeting the Jain monks on Vaibhara Hill

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