Mebrak Caves

In the upper Muktinath Valley a large rock massif is situated on the northern bank of the river Jhong opposite the village sites of Jharkot and Khingar. At its easternmost corner lie the castle and the village of Dzong (Jhong). The south and west facing parts of this rock massif contain several multi-storey cave systems that are 90 meters high from the Jhong river. There are also house ruins right in front of these cave settlements. Various excavations revealed skeletons, utensils and vessels from the Mebrak caves. Most utensils and vessels were apparently given as offerings to the dead. It's a pretty unique view from far out; they seem like little ant holes. Research has suggested these caves had chambers which were connected to each other. In fact, these caves were no less than large scale prehistoric apartment complexes. It had a separate storage place and even bedrooms. Right on the base of the rock massif are ruins of house settlements. There is a longish oval settlement area just in front of the caves on the river terrace. The logic behind these settlements being so close to the Mebrak caves is that during the war-ridden past the inhabitants of these settlements would take refuge in the caves during times of conflict. Radiocarbon dating of a basket found inside the caves point to the sixteenth century as the final abandonment date of these caves.