Meghalaya houses one of the largest cave networks in South Asia. The state boasts of the largest network of caves found on the Indian sub-continent. An underground guided cave tour here unveils the beautiful and amazing naturally formed carvings. The subterranean passageways of the caves lead the travelers to discover the natural limestone cave formations of Meghalaya.
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Caving Meghalaya[/caption]
The caves of Meghalaya encompass a large number of caves in the Jaintia, Khasi Hills and Garo hill districts. The caves here are amongst the longest caves in the World. The cave exploration tour of Meghalaya takes you through the caves of Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. There are experienced and proficiently trained cavers to guide tourists through the caves and also to ensure their safety.
A journey through the caves is very interesting which will pass through dark and sunless interiors. The caves here are of various formations. The basic skills of cave exploration are taught at the starting point itself. The cave passages here are mostly live, that means you would either have to walk through waist deep water or has to swim in order to navigate the caves.
Shnong Rim area in the Jaintia hills harbors more than a hundred vertical and horizontal cave passages, making it the ultimate caving destination in India. If you are starting from there it will be easy for you to explore different caves.
The experienced cavers will brief you on using caving equipment and general safety rules before reaching Krem Tynghen. This spot is often referred as a caving beginners spot. This Grade 1 cave has large horizontal passages making it ideal for the beginners to get introduced to caving.
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Wet cave passage in Krem Umthloo[/caption]
Krem Umthloo, a Grade 2 cave has many wet passages with waist deep water. This cave has many beautiful and unique rock formations like flowstone, cave pearls, curtains.
Krem Chympe by far is the most exciting cave on the trip, as one need to swim through the first 200 meters to enter the cave. To reach the mouth of the cave, you need to hike for about one hour. For entering into the cave you have to wear your wet suite and dive in the river passage. There is a large river running through this active cave. This wonderful cave has some passages worth exploring.
Krem Sim Thabbalong cave can be explored only after learning the basics of cave exploration as it is more technical in nature. It requires sufficient strength and skill to find a way over the narrow passages here.
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Nature made Shivalinga in Krem Mawjymbuin[/caption]
One of the caves in Meghalaya has now become popular as a holy shrine. At the entrance of the Krem Mawjymbuin cave there is a large stalactite over a female stalagmite which symbolizes a Shiva Lingam.
There are some other caves also worth exploring. Krem Mawkhyrdop cave is known for its incomparable cave fauna. Krem Dam is the broadest sandstone cave in the Indian sub-continent. The only show cave in Meghalaya is Mawsmai, well-stocked with light. Krem Lymput is known for its calcite formations.
The challenges involved in caving vary according to the cave being visited. The best season for this adventure will be from November to March.