Cave Temple of Bumazuv, also known as "Bumzu" or "Bhumju", is located at the mouth of Lidder valley in Anantnag District, in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. It is about a mile towards the north of the village of Bawan and is on the left bank of the Lidder River. The Cave temple lies in the Bumazuv Caves, an artificial group of caves holding considerable importance, which have been built in a special architectural manner, chiselled out from a large mass of limestone cliff. Close by is another cave and there are two temples about half a mile further up the valley at the foot of the cliff. The place is famous for three cave temples situated on the left bank of Lidder, 60 feet above at a close distance to each other. The largest among them is dedicated to Lord Kaladeva. Other attractions in the neighbourhood are the Ziarat of Baba Bamdin Sahib.
Structure of the Cave Temple of Bumazuv
The Cave temple although is a small one carved out from these stones; the structural work of the temple resembles the other temples of Kashmir. The temple traverses an area of 9 feet 5 inches square externally. The base of the temple is located at a height of 4 feet 6 inches. The slight protrusion of the porch of the temple is the main drawing card for the tourists. The two rectangular recesses in the corner columns heighten the beauty of the temple.
The entrance to one of the caves is carved architectural doorway, which through a passage leads one to the cave temple. The temple is on a raised platform and is reached by a flight of steps. The old square doorway had statues, which were defaced. The second cave temple is close by and is slightly bigger in size but without any architectural designs. An idol exists in this cave temple. Nearby is also the third cave temple, which is also without any architectural design. Both are, to a considerable extent, copies of the Cave Temple but may be of much later date.
Legend of Cave Temple of Bumazuv
There is a legend, which gives the origin of these cave temples and links the Bumzu caves and the shrine of Chakradhara with King Nara. According to some historians, King Nara succeeded his father Vibishana in the year Kali 2108 (993 BC). One day, he beheld Chandrasaha, the daughter of Susravas, a serpent-god, whose place was in a lake and decided to carry her away from her husband, a Brahmin. The plan failed, upon which the enraged Brahmin asked Susravas to avenge the insult. A storm was called up and the earth opened and swallowed the king and his whole Court. The sister of the serpent-god assisted him and hurled on the city huge stones from the Martand Mountain. The cavern of Bhumju are said to be on the spot where these rocks were upturn.
How to Reach Cave Temple of Bumazuv
The Cave Temple of Bumazuv Caves can be approached from Mattan which is about 1 mile away from the said location. One can also reach the spot by road from Anantnag by the Pahalgam Road and Anantnag as there are regular bus services. The nearest railhead is Jammu.
