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Nestling in Himalayas is Himachal, the abode of gods, which is virtually a treasure-house of mythical secrets. Towering high on the Kalka-Shimla NH 22 at 7,000 ft above Karol Mountain, highest in the region. What makes Karol Mountain unique is that hidden in it, is the Pandava Gufa, a 28 km-long cave, one of world’s longest and oldest one in the Himalayan ranges. Karol Mountain invites global attention as there’s a baffling mystery of cave’s existence, apart from its magical herbs, (including the mythical life-saving sanjivini buti), lost in mazes of antiquity that’s yet to be unravelled. Legends reveal that this age-old cave exists from the times of the Mahabharata. Interestingly, the epic’s closing scene was at Pinjore (near Kalka). Let’s pick up the legend’s familiar threads: When the five Pandavas overcame the 100 sons of blind Dhritarashtra, the region from Hastinapur (one of Delhi’s old names) to Panchpura (place of five Pandavas, as Pinjore was then called), became part of their newly recreated kingdom. The Pandavas rested here during their agyatvaas (exile). As Shakuni (Kaurava’s maternal uncle) desired to burn them alive, he built a house of lacquer (lakshagrih) for the Pandavas. However, "When Bhisham Pitamah learnt of this treachery, he had a long cave dug from Panchpura to Karol Mountain." He thus helped Pandavas to escape through this tunnel — like cave to Karol, where they stayed for five years. Geologists opine that this cave is just a geographical phenomenon. Ironically, the Mahabharata mentions it. Many facts point to cave’s mythical existence that runs from Pinjore’s Mughal (Yadavindra) Gardens and terminates between Solan and Kandaghat. The cave is said to emanate an unusual smell. Often bats screech at its entrance. But the amazing fact remains that except Pandavas, nobody else could venture in this meandering cave. Locals inform that one can walk inside for about 30-40 feet only. Water seepage, landslides and stones are a hindrance from going afar. However, tantriks and hermits, who dared to cross these hurdles to traverse further retraced their steps. Some fell ill, others unconscious and one even turned blue and ugly. Locals fear that perhaps an invisible dangerous supernatural power maybe residing inside its mysterious dark passage. Then Mahabharata chronicles that a holy spring existed in Panchpura’s woods. Centuries later, Nawab Fadai Khan Koka, foster brother of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, built a 100-acre idyllic garden at foothills of lower Shivaliks, claimed as one of oldest Mughal gardens. Fadai Khan incorporated this spring in it. Near it, he also built Rajasthani-styled Rang Mahal (Painted Palace). Water perennially gushes out from Rang Mahal’s right corner. Scientists trace its source to Karol Mountain. Moreover, leaves of oak tree flow out with water here. Surprisingly, no oak tree grows in Pinjore but they grow abundantly in Karol. The obvious explanation is that oak leaves get blown into the mouth of its source at Karol, are sucked in a tunnel, to float all way to Pinjore! Where exactly the water flows, still remains epic’s secret. Though one can hear water’s flow along the cave, it’s nowhere to be seen at the mouth of Karol cave. Carrying out a simple experiment, German scientists poured coloured water in cave, which flowed to Pinjore! Undoubtedly, these factors point to cave’s existence from Karol to Pinjore. Paharis strongly believe that various herbs, including the magical Sanjivini Buti, grows in Karol Mountain. Once found in abundance, they are now on verge of extinction due to man’s greed of plundering nature’s bounty. However, many instances of cures are reported. Once, a Basal villager inadvertently cut her finger while collecting fodder. Being afar in forest she couldn’t apply any home remedy. Returning to Basal, she found that the wound and pain had suddenly vanished. Obviously her finger had healed, when it touched herbs in fodder, which she was carrying. Lore says that Karol Tibba (grassy mounds) is a fragment of Mount Kailash. When Hanuman was flying with the Kailash Mountain in his hand, a part of it fell down here. Since Kailash Mountain is said to contain healing herbs, undeniably they are continuing this legacy in Karol Mountain. Interestingly, one of Karol’ peaks is believed to resemble famed Shimla’s Jakhu peak. Karol Mountain contains natural uncovered water tanks called johar, which are prone to contamination. Strangely, Paharis safely drink rain johar-stored water as herbal leaves blown by winds in johar, prevent bacteria formation in it. Also a habitat of wildlife and flaming rhododendrons, Karol Mountain’s mystique of hidden Pandava cave remains unsolved.
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