KHLIEHRIAT WAH SPAR, Langkyrdem (Krem)
25.350300,91.892500
Description
Not only a secondary, north-west facing rift cave entrance (0.4 m wide, 2.7 m high) but also a pair of south-west facing cave entrances (1.2 m and 0.6 m wide, 2.7 m high) in the back of an about 12 m wide, south-west facing rock shelter give access to a simple maze of interconnected rift cave passages (on average 1 m wide and 2 m high) and a meandering cave passage, which ascends generally south-east and leads to impenetrable rifts. The cave walls are highly corroded and most of the floor is covered with sand. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi cave names "Krem Khliehriat Wahspar" (note 1) translates as »Prickly Bamboo Sream's Cliff-Head Cave« (note 2) and the stream is also called Wah Nongjri (note 3) because the cave is believed, according to legend (see below), to give access to a penetrable cave passage which all the way underground to Nongjri (note 4). SITUATION 1998: About 100 m downhill from where the road to Lynkyrdem / Lyngkyrdem / Langkyrdem (note 5) forks off the National Highway NH40 from Shillong via Laitlynkot to Pynursla (N25°18'30”: E092°54'), a stream from the left (used as a washing place) flows along the incised streambed of the Wah Nongbri. At the northern (orographically right) flank of the streambed, an overgrown footpath descends for some 10 vertical metres and slants into a cliff (in late October 1998 with a waterfall) with the south-west facing cave entrances. SITUATION 2013: »Ka Khliehriat Wahspar: This is a cave in Khliehriat Wahspar, Langkyrdem which lies besides the National Highway (NH 40)« (note 6). CULTURAL HISTORY -- human use: Several broken pieces of ornamented pottery ascribed a the local guide to a disturbed man who was said to have taken retreat there some time ago. Unexplained remained what looked like large characters (or numbers?) written in red colour on daylight-lit rock surfaces. CULTURAL HISTORY -- cave legend, fabulous tunnel: »This is a cave … exits till the village Lyndem and from thence goes on to exit further in the village Nongjri, the route which was supposed to have been taken by the wife of U Dem … … Ka Langmer [note 7] and U Dem were living peacefully with each other in their own home which is known till today as “Synrang U Dem” in the Iewduh area of Langkyrdem Village. But as days and years went by, when the economic status started going up and the population of the Hima started growing in leaps and bounds, the state of affairs in the political and economic strata started become more murkier and murkier -- this started the couple, viz. U Dem and Ka Langmer, to be more anxious and worried about the future of their Kingdom. But the instance which most affected their lives was that no one paid any more obeisance to their authority due to the presence of U Kohlu [note 8]. This brought about the differences between husband and wife, the god and goddess, to such an extent that the wife, Ka Langmer, had to flee through a cave or Pubon, to the Shnong or locality called Lyndem [note 9]. The King U Dem was livid with anger knowing that his wife had left and fled and he in turn, went to search for his beloved till the valleys of Nongjri [note 7] (so says our folklores) and when she was nowhere to be found, he went back to a locality called Umniuh [note 10] frustrated. In his anger and rage, it is said that he had cut off in Nine (9) pieces [note 11] a big Rock (Mawlong) which was very high and imposing and this rock (in 9 Pieces) can still be viewed on the way to the village “Umniuh” till today« (note 12).
NOTE 1: sites.google.com/site/langkyrdem/-mawpun (accessed 2013.01.28). NOTE 2: "ka khlieh" (Khasi; noun), binomial imitative:”ka khlieh ka reng” (SINGH, N 1906: 33), also found spelled ”ka khleh; ka khlih” (SINGH, N 1906: 33), »the head; the top« (SINGH, N 1906: 33); »a cap; the head; the top« (SINGH, N 1920: 59, 215, 532); »the head; the top« (BLAH 2007: 127, 310). "ka riat" (Khasi; noun), binomial: ”ka riat ka ram” (SINGH, N 1906: 172), »a precipice« (SINGH, N 1906: 172; SINGH, N 1920: 394; BLAH, E 2007: 233); »a cliff« (SINGH, N 1906: 172; SINGH, N 1920: 74; BLAH, E 2007: 52); »a crag« (SINGH, N 1920: 100). "u spar" (Khasi; noun), also found spelled ”Uspar” (HOOKER, J D 1854-1855, 2: 268 footnote: after Mr. Inglis), »the prickly bamboo« (SINGH, N 1906: 211); »one of the names of bamboo« (HOOKER, J D 1854-1855, 2: 268 footnote: after Mr. Inglis). NOTE 3: Kharpran Daly, B D (1997.03.13 Mss: 25 caves located, item 2). NOTE 4: Nongjri (±100 m) N25°11'28”: E091°47'38”: 300 m asl WGS84), about 20 km in a direct line SSW from Langkyrdem (±200 m) N25°21'03”: E091°53'42” (WGS84). NOTE 5: Langkyrdem (sites.google.com/site/langkyrdem/-mawpun accessed 2013.01.28) Lynkyrdem KHARPRAN DALY, B D (2006 s.a.: 16) Lyngkyrdem GURDON, P R T (1906: 25); Kharpran Daly, B D (1997.03.13 Mss: 25 caves located) Linkardyem YULE, H (1844: 630) Langkyrdem near (±200 m) 25°21'03”N: 91°53'42”E (WGS84 modified from 25°21'01”N: 91°53'53”E Everest 1830) on the Survey of India sheets 78-O/15 (edition 1912) and 78-O/SE (edition 1917) in the area about 5 km north of Pynursla (25°18'30”N: 92°54'E) and at a travelling distance of about 35 km along the National Highway NH 40 from Shillong generally south via Laitlyngkot (25°26'45”N: 91°50'25”E) and south-east towards Dauki (25°11'05”N: 92°01'08”E). NOTE 6: sites.google.com/site/langkyrdem/-mawpun (accessed 2013.01.28). NOTE 7: "u 'lang" (Khasi; noun), a contraction of ”u phlang” (SINGH, N 1906: 108, 157) »the grass« (SINGH, N 1906: 108); "mér" (Khasi; verb) »to grow well; to sprout« (SINGH, N 1906: 131). NOTE 8: "u koh" (Khasi; noun) »an appellation of old man; the male form of 'iaw« (SINGH, N 1906: 44); "(ia-) lúh" (Khasi; verb), ”ialuh iapah” (binomial imitative) »to woo; to entice; to make love; to allure« (SINGH, N 1906: 120). NOTE 9: Lyndem, unidentified. NOTE 10: Nongjri (±100 m) N25°11'28”: E091°47'38”: 300 m asl WGS84), about 20 km in a direct line SSW from Langkyrdem (±200 m) N25°21'03”: E091°53'42” (WGS84). NOTE 10: Umniuh (±250 m, ) N25°12'05”: E091°50'10” (WGS84 modified from N25°12'05”: E091°50'20” Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/16, 1911 edition). NOTE 11: "khyndái" (Khasi; number / noun) »9; nine« (SINGH, N 1906: 39; GURDON, P R T 1906: 200, 208, 214; OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: LXII). "ka lyngkhot" (Khasi; noun), binomial imitative: ”ka langkot-ka langkhái” (SINGH, N 1906: 121) is used with numerals like "ar" and "shi" or "lai" etc., and means »[one] piece« and »[two] pieces« etc. (SINGH, N 1906: 121). NOTE 12: sites.google.com/site/langkyrdem/ki-pubon---synran… (accessed 2013.01.28).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1997: Brian D. Kharpran Daly (1997 Mss) recorded the cave name »Krem Wahnongjri«. 1998.10.27: H. D. Gebauer (book), Paul A. Edmunds (instruments) and Uwe Kalmbach (tape) along with Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Elizabeth 'Liz' Millet and Neil Sootinck surveyed and mapped, explored and found great expectations frustrated.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | DEM (Synrang U) | ||
| 1.2 | LAITSHYNGIAR, 2nd (Krem) | ||
| 1.2 | LAITSHYNGIAR (Krem) | ||
| 4.4 | Saint Mary's Grotto | ||
| 5.7 | PYNSHAD (Krem) | ||
| 5.9 | PHRIA (Krem) | ||
| 5.9 | UR BAN, Pynursla (Synrang) | ||
| 5.9 | LOREN (Krem) | ||
| 5.9 | LOREN 2 (Krem) |