Hidden wonders

Vishwas Kale,professor,Geography Department,University of Pune,says,The bridge might be 50,000 years old. But not many know of the existence of this remarkable structure. Kale says it was once a high valley,over which a river flowed gently. It has now become a steep gradient due to a change in the earths movement attributed to the neo-tectonic activity.

Inland bridges in igneous and metamorphic rocks are almost absent. The bridge carved out by a stream in the basaltic lava flows is highly significant says Lalit Kshirsagar,Principal,Maharashtra Institute of Technology. He was among the first to notice the bridge.

As one approaches the bridge,the anonymity around it is striking. Situated on Ane Ghat,the structure remains unknown despite the presence of a prominent Durga temple. Even the neighbouring settlement of Gulanchwadi is unaware of its existence.

Bori

The river Kukdi flows silently through Bori,a village thats 80 kilometres from Pune. But what makes for a grand spectacle at Bori is the vast spread of volcanic ash that is concentrated on the banks of the river.

Spread across 10 kilometres at the Kukdi river basin,its a patch of white amidst the surrounding green. Geologists believe that this ash has travelled from Sumatra in Indonesia around 60,000 years ago.

Sharad Rajguru,ex-Director,Deccan College,Pune says,We had sent samples of the ash to the Physical Research Laboratory of Ahmedabad where a potassium argon dating test was undertaken since the volcanic ash contains potassium,which has some radioactive ingredient. After a while,the irradiated potassium gets converted into argon and by calculating the proportion of argon and potassium,the age is calculated.

Geologists believe that the Stone Age man must have witnessed this unusual event.

But while the geologists marvel at this,even the village sarpanch for five years,Sharada Shinde,cant understand the fuss about the white patch and why outsiders spend hours staring at it . The worst part is that the locals use this ash to wash their utensils. I think soon it will be all over and we will not be able to conserve any part of it, says a disappointed Ajit Vartak,Professor Wadia College,Pune.

Nighoj

About 90 kilometers from Pune is the village of Nighoj. Two kilometres from here is the famous Kund Devi temple on the Ghod riverbed. Every year during Janmashtami,lakhs of devotees visit the kund to witness the miracle of an earthen pot emerging out of a well. This was a gift from our goddess,thats why the villagers worship her with so much devotion says Rekha,a regular at the temple.

Spread over an acre and a half,the temple is surrounded by deep canyons which house huge pothole-like structures carved out of rockbeds. With a width of 25 feet,these gigantic potholes are one of Asias largest,according to geologists.

Though the villagers acknowledge these potholes as natures masterpiece,they too cant figure out why geologists from around the world visit the deep canyon.

Kale says,In my view these structures must have taken around thousands of years to be formed. But if visit the place now,youll find ugly graffiti all over the depressions.

He points out that around six months ago,mining activity was carried out 100 metres away from the site. There should be no such activity within at least half a kilometre from the site, he says.