Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.301

c6.301

The Buddhist texts mention seven great Himalayan lakes: Anotatta,³ Kaṇṇamuṇḍa, Rathakāra, Chaddanta, Kuṇāla, Mandākinī and Sīhappa-pāta.⁴ Each of them is fifty leagues in length, breadth and depth. Their names are such as to defy all attempts at a correct identification, and the description of their length, breadth and depth is too symmetrical to inspire confidence. Among the Himalayan peaks mention may be made of the Maṇiparvata, Hiṅgulaparvata, Añjanaparvata, Sānuparvata and Phaḷikaparvata.⁵ None of them can be satisfactorily identified.