Faiza Tehseen

The conservation and promotion of the ‘cave city’ in Lasbela district of Balochsitan is critical to attract tourists, including foreigners, and generate economic opportunities for local communities.

"Gondrani, an archaeological site near the town of Bela, can be turned into a place of amazing adventure and tourist hotspot. The unique geology of the area, including its cultural charisma, makes it a perfect destination for heritage and eco-tourism. Accessibility to Gondrani caves needs to be improved,” said Dawood Tareen, director of culture and focal person of the tourism department, Balochistan. Talking to WealthPK, he said: “The ancient ‘caves city’ or the ‘Gondrani caves’ are famous with different names – ‘Shehr-e-Roghan (cave city)’, ‘Puranay Ghaar’ or old caves. They are also called the house of spirits or the town of ‘Mai Gondrani’.” He said that many legends are associated with this place. “The most famous of them is the story of an old holy woman, Mai Gondrani, who exorcised the evil spirits inhabiting the mountain. Her burial place is nearby and is a well-known shrine.”

Emphasising the need to develop proper infrastructure and to promote this place as a tourist activity point, he said that it will help bring a lot of opportunities for local communities. “The area will be developed and tourists can also access a lot of other surrounding tourist spots – Hingol National Park, Hanna Lake and Ziarat.” He said virtual tours should be organised to attract both foreign and national tourists to the cave city. “Promoting the city on both social and print media can also attract tourists.” Discussing with WealthPK the history of Gondrani caves, Dr Mahmoodul Hassan, former deputy director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Islamabad, said: “The Gondrani caves are considered significant sites in the Welpat region. First reported in 1833, they are situated in a lateral canyon of the Kud River drainage. The cliffs, rising to considerable heights, are honeycombed with shallow man-made caves on both sides of the canyon.

In some places, the cliffs have collapsed, leaving only a backwall as evidence of the previous caves. The area is rather remote and far from cultivatable lands.” He said that during British rule about 500 caves were reported, but due to a lack of conservation, they have fallen into ruins. “The caves were dug into clastic sedimentary rocks at several levels and connected by pathways. Each cave was constructed as a small home dwelling, featuring a hearth, a porch about 15 feet wide and five to eight feet deep, and a room no wider than the porch but extending 20 feet deep.”  Hassan said: “In some caves, one or two steps lead up or down into the main room. The walls may have originally been plastered, but most of this has now fallen away. In the corner of each room, a semi-circular storage area, built from boulders and clay and standing waist-high, can be found. Niches, positioned at shoulder height, are thought to have been used for lamps.”

Hassan said: “No proper stairways were found, suggesting ladders might have been used to access the higher caves. Some old sherds recovered from the site include plain wheel-made pottery, coarse earthenware, a piece of an iron bit, and remnants of a grinding wheel.” Dr. Hassan emphasized that no idol niches, statues, or characteristic architectural features linked to Hindus or Buddhists have been found. “The caves, though small and varied in location, were clearly intended as habitations. However, there is no evidence of who built them or when they were occupied. Numerous local legends exist, but none provide any clues about the original builders.”   He said the site is worth visiting if the government focuses on its promotion.

Credit: INP-WealthPk