Hi,
Thanks for the nice pics!!! I remember my trip to Usgalimol early this year. The place is very serene, and with the cold clean stream (which once was a mighty river named Kushawati) flowing besides the carvings, it has a very fairy tale like setting. The caretaker over there was very informative, and he mentioned that there are more rock carvings around that are yet to be uncovered and discovered. Not even half a kilometer away from this place, we came across an open pit which I learned was an old mine. It was filled with water (which looked very blue - the sort that we see in the tourist brochures of island resorts)!!! There were some mine people doing a survey of this pit; I learned that they could be starting operations once more!!! It is such a sad state of affairs that we do not have any means by which we can preserve our own heritage!!! Shouldn't there be a buffer around such areas to protect these sites? Just a few kms away from Usgalimol is the village of Vichundrem. Here lies an ancient temple to Lord Vishnu. Only the foundations of the temple stand as of today, but looking at whatever exists, there is no doubt that the temple was artistically designed. There is no proper path to this spot, and if there is no local person around to show the way, it is nearly impossible to find it. The highlight of the temple is a big statue of the God which remains exposed to the elements. I am not sure why the idol is kept open - any miscreant can just steal it. The idol is very beautiful and deserves to be kept in a museum (or atleast protected in some other way). Next to the temple is the bed of a stream which must have dried up ages ago. Also, just by the side of the temple lies what looks like could have been another temple. A friend who accompanied us informed that as per folk stories recited by the elders, this was a temple to Betaal. The idol of this temple is supposed to be placed/hidden inside a pond close by to protect it. The path to the pond is nearly impassable; we tried for some distance, but had to turn back nearly bruised. I am not sure why this idol was hidden, but I would surely want to know/explore it further. Such history!!! Such a heritage!!! Regards, Prasad Vaman Raicar From: "Rajan P. Parrikar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] Kazur To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii To Goanet - The remarkable pre-historic art gallery at Usgaimol - now under threat from the criminal mining activity nearby - in Sanguem taluka is fairly well-known. Not as well known are the petroglyphs inscribed on a rock in a field a few miles away in the tiny village of Kazur in Quepem taluka. Thanks & Regards, Prasad Vaman Raicar P Please do not print this email unless it is absolutely necessary. Spread environmental awareness. Please do not print this email unless it is absolutely necessary. The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments. WARNING: Computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. www.wipro.com
