Srinagar, Jan 08: About 130 kms away from summer capital Srinagar, Kalaroos caves in north Kashmir's Kupwara are popular among elders as they believe the caves connect Kashmir valley with Russia.

The name of the Kalaroos village has come from the word “Qil-e-Roos”, which actually means Russian Fort. The Kalaroos caves are situated midway of Lashtyal and Madhmadu villages. "There is a giant stone in Lashtyal village named Satbaran. The stone has seven doors, which are known as Sath Barr".

The locals say that the doors symbolize seven distinct routes to Russia and other countries. At one of the Kalaroos caves, the entrance has a clear gap to let you in, but at some places inside it needs skilled technique to walk in it because there are many uneven slopes. "Once you enter the cave you feel the air much cooler and darkness at its extreme", Khazir Mohammad a local said.

“We have heard that our ancestors used to go into the caves but their lanterns would run out of oil before they could make it very far. Other stories claim that there are streams inside that they cannot be crossed because there are no bridges,” said Ashraf Charag, a resident of Kupwara.

Notably some American explorers like Eric Fries and Amber explored three caves back in 2018 and reached the termination points of each of them. They mentioned the possibility that two of the caves might have been connected in the past. One of the two caves is upward trending and the other one trends downwards. Both of them have similar elevations and azimuths.

However, so far no one can for sure say, if what locals believe is a legend or a reality. Whatever the case might be for the people of Kalaroos it is their connection with Russia.