91 
1899.] NORTHERN AND EASTERN MOUNTAIN RANGES. 
times both routes were in charge of a ‘ Malik ’ who resided in the castle 
of BandvJcoth, not far from the ancient Matrgrama shown on the 
map. 
In ancient times there probably existed in the same neighbourhood 
a watch-station or Dranga. Ou-k'ong when speaking of the ‘ gate to 
the north ’ through which the road led to Point or Baltistan, may have 
meant either this Dranga or the fort of Dugdhagliata. 
57 . To the east of the Dud^khut Pass the summits of the range 
, _ , , gradually get higher and higher until we reach 
the great mountain-mass of the Haramukli 
Peaks. Rising to close on 17,000 feet and surrounded by glaciers of 
considerable size, these Peaks dominate the view towards the north 
from a great part of the Kasmir Valley. Sacred legends have 
clustered around them from early times. The lakes below their 
glaciers belong still to the holiest of Kasmlrian Tirthas. The ancient 
name of the Peaks is Haramukuta, ‘ S'iva’s diadem.’ This is explain¬ 
ed by a legend which is related at length in the Haracaritacintamani. 1 
Their height is supposed to be S'iva’s favourite residence. 2 Hence 
Kasmlrian tradition stoutly maintains that human feet cannot reach 
the Peaks’ summit. 3 
The lake which lies at the foot of the north-eastern glacier, at a level 
of over 13,000 feet, is looked upon as the true source of the Kasmir 
Ganga or Sind River. It is hence known as Uttaraganga or popularly 
Gang a bal , 4 It is the final goal of the great ‘ Haramukutaganga ’ pil¬ 
grimage which takes place annually in the month of Bhadrapada and is 
attended by thousands of pilgrims. The bones of those who have died 
during the year, are on that occasion deposited in the sacred waters. 
A short distance below this lake is another also fed by a glacier and 
now known as Nundkol. Its old name Kalodaka or Nandisaras is 
derived from a legend which makes the lake the joint habitation of 
Kala, i.e., S'iva, and of his faithful attendant Nandin. From the 
1 See Haracar. iv. 62 sqq . 
2 The legends relating to S'iva’s residence on Mount Haramulcuta and his 
connection with the several sacred sites of Nandiksetra, aro given at great length in 
the Nilamata 1049 sqq. 
3 Owing to this superstition I had great difficulty in inducing any of my 
Kasmlrl Coolies (Muhammadans !) to accompany me on the ascent I made to the 
Peaks in September, 1894. My Brahman friends could not give credence to my 
having reached the summit. According to their opinion the very fact of my 
having reached the Peak was a sufficient pi-oof of this not having been Haramukuta. 
An argument as simple as incontrovertible to the orthodox mind. 
4 Sec my note Rdjat. i. 57. Another name often used in the Nilamata and 
other texts is Uttaramdnasa ; see Raj at. iii, 448 note. 
