92 
ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY OF KAS'MIR. [Extra No. 2, 
latter the whole collection of sacred sites takes the name of Nandiksetra 
by which Kalhana usually designates it. 1 
In the valley of the Kank a nai stream (Skr. KanakavahinI) which 
issues from these lakes, lies the sacred site of S'iva Bhutesvara (now 
Buthbser). It is closely connected with the legends of Mount Hara- 
mukuta and often mentioned in the Rajataranginl. 2 A series of interest¬ 
ing temple ruins marks the importance of this Tirtha and that of the 
ancient Jyesthesvara shrine which immediately adjoins it. 3 Bhutesvara 
is passed by the pilgrims on their way back from the sacred lakes, while 
on their way up they reach the latter by another route, passing the 
high ridge known as Bharatagiri and the smaller lake of Brahmasaras. 
From the Gahga lake a track passable for ponies leads over the 
Satsaran Pass to Tilel , a Dard district on the Kisanganga. It is probably 
the route by which King Harsa’s rebel brother Vijayamalla escaped 
from Laliara (Lar) to the Darad territory. 4 * 
58. Eastwards from the Haramukuta Peaks the range does not 
overlook on the south the main Valley of 
Kasmir, but that of the Sind River. The gene¬ 
ral level of the summits rises, and glaciers of fair size become frequent 
on their northern slopes. Close to the head of the Sind Valley, 
the range we have been so far following joins on to the great chain of 
snowy mountains which stretches from Mount Nanga. Parvat in a south¬ 
easterly direction to the Nankun Peaks in S'uru. 6 A few miles south 
of this junction we arrive at a gap in the mountains which forms the 
lowest watershed between the Indus and the Vitasta basins. It is the 
Pass known generally by its Ladakhi name of Zoji-Ld. It leads at an 
elevation of 11,300 feet from Baltal, on the headwaters of the Sind, to a 
high-level valley draining into the Dras River and hence into the Indus. 
The route leading over the Zoji-La undoubtedly has been already 
Route over ZojI La anc * en ^ fi mes a most important thorough¬ 
fare. It connects Kasmir with Ladakh and 
thence with Tibet and China. Here too the natural watershed has in 
old as in modern times been also the ethnic boundary. Beyond the 
Pass begins the land of the Bhauttas or Bhuttas , as the Tibetan inhabi- 
North-eastern range. 
1 See Rdjat. i. 36 note. 
2 See regarding the history and remains of Bhutesvara, Rajat. i. 107 ; v. 55 
notes. The Tirtha was rich enough to attract a special expedition of marauding 
hill men in Kalhana’s time ; see viii. 2756. 
3 See Rdjat. i. 113 note. 
4 See Rdjat . vii. 911. 
6 Compare regarding this great range which may fitly be called the main range 
of the mountain system around Kasmir, Drew, Jummoo , pp, 194 sqq. 
