Shillong, March 15: The state of Meghalaya has once again cemented its position as a top caving region in the world with the completion of the 31st International Cave Expedition, under the project “Caving in the Abode of the Clouds.” The expedition took place between February 6 to 24 in the area of Muallian in East Jaintia Hills District.
The team was composed of cavers from the UK, Switzerland, and Ireland, as well as members of the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA). The focus of this year’s expedition was on Krem Rynjang (Retdung Khur), Pynnoh Um Sngad, and Ram Khur.
The 2023 expedition explored and mapped 6,635m of new cave passage, including the extension of Krem Pynnoh Um Sngad, which was extended from last year’s length of 5,295m to 7,831m and further connected to Ram Khur. This made the cave system (Pynnoh Um Sngad-Ram Khur system) with a length of 14,951 meters, jump up to the seventh place in India’s longest caves. Many side passages remain, including a massive relic passage (The Barren Lands), which is 50m wide and 29m high, ongoing in a NE direction.
Also, Krem Rynjang was extended by a further 4,117m, taking its length to 20,445m, making it occupy the fifth position. Numerous side passages still remain to be explored.
The expedition was much harder and more technical than previous years as all the caves in the area are vertical, with over 85m entrance shafts. Furthermore, as exploration gets deeper into the cave systems, more than 3.5 hours are spent in reaching the last point of survey from the entrance.
According to Brian D Kharpran Daly, General Secretary of the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA), to date (February 24, 2023), the whereabouts of just over 1,700 caves and cave locations are known in Meghalaya, of which over 1,100 have been explored or partially explored. With this year’s expedition, the total cave passage explored and mapped in the state of Meghalaya has reached 537.6 km, solidifying Meghalaya as a top caving region in the world. The caves offer a rich diversity of cave life, including impressive river caves mixed with massive and often richly decorated relic passages, along with magnificent clean-washed shafts, creating cave systems equal in size and beauty to those found elsewhere in the world.
The MAA expressed its sincere thanks to the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, and the Meghalayan Age Limited for their continued support, without which the documentation of the caves of Meghalaya would not have been a success.
