Tral, a sub-district, is surrounded by lofty mountain ranges and densely forested evergreen trees in Kashmir. Located at a distance of around 40 kms from Srinagar, the area is known for its striking beauty, century-old chinar trees, and springs. For the last few years, however, the history and preservation of the millennia-old Gufkral caves here have become a talking point for concerned locals. The name is a combination of guf (“cave”) and kral (“potter”), which alludes to the age-old pottery tradition of the local craftspeople.

　　Here’s all you need to know about the history, significance and current state of the Gufkral caves.

　　A Place Steeped In History

　　The Gufkral caves are made up of two caves—one that is visible, and one that isn’t. Back in 1981, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted an excavation of the caves, which revealed that the site was occupied for five periods from the Aceramic Neolithic to Megalithic periods, with estimates tracing their origin to 2000-3000 BCE.

　　According to Saleem Beg, the convener of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and a former chairperson of the National Monuments Authority, a much-overlooked significance of the Gufkral caves remains the agricultural heritage that connects it to Central Asia.

　　“There are traces of agricultural produce found here, with rice and wheat grains being discovered. We know that wheat came from Central Asia, and agriculture flourished in the Gangetic plains. The people of that time cultivated here, which is what makes the Gufkral caves significant,” he said in a conversation with Outlook Traveller. Beg draws a parallel between the caves and the Burzahom archaeological site, where a large cache of tools and implements made of bone and stone showed that its inhabitants used to hunt and farm.

　　A Pottery Lineage Dying A Slow Death

　　The caves have been inhabited by potter families for at least 1,400 years, crafting earthen pots and other fine clay objects for generations. The people here have a deep connection to the site, often describing wedding ceremonies and other milestone events that would take place inside the caves. Thus, it should come as no surprise that community members believe that the caves are not only remnants of history but also form an inseparable part of their identity.

　　Present State Of Affairs

　　The area around the Gufkral caves is deteriorating due to neglect and natural erosion. Soil slides have rendered them unsafe for exploration. Beg says that the sorry state of the Gufkral caves needs to be addressed, and fast. “Access to the caves is encroached upon and needs to be corrected. We cannot leave such a significant site in a state of abandonment,” he says during the telephonic interaction.

　　Four years ago, the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums of Jammu and Kashmir proposed that the Gufkral caves be officially protected by the state government, and an application was submitted for the same. However, nothing has come of it so far.

　　The caves are not formally protected by the ASI either. While visitors are encouraged to support local potter families by purchasing their wares and being respectful of their impact on the site, the long-term future of the Gufkral caves remains in serious doubt. It’s a sobering thought that a place that has seen so much could one day not exist at all.