MAWRAMDAH (Krem)
25.192200,91.731400
Description
NOTE 1: In November 1995 I recorded at a populated place, which I was told to be the village of Wahlong, a poor-precision GPS waypoint near (±150 m) 25°12'29”N: 91°43'25”E : circa (±200 m) 800 m asl (WGS84 modified from 25°12'27”N: 91°43'35”E Everest 1830, Gebauer, H D undated 1995 November unstable 4-channel GPS Garmin 4). At this location, the Survey of India sheets 78-O/12 indicate the village of Mawthangsokkhyllum (edition 1912) or Mawthangsok Khyllum (edition 1937). NOTE 2: Bairong (±250 m) 25°12'02”N: 91°43'10”N (WGS84 modified from 25°12'00”N: 91°43'20”E Everest 1830, Survey of India 78-O/12 edition 1912). NOTE 3: Therriaghat, near (±250 m) 25°10'47”N: 91°45'05”E (WGS84 modified from 25°10'45”N: 91°45'15”E Everest 1830, Survey of India sheet 78-O/16 edition 1911).
A 20 m wide and 10 m high, south-facing cave entrance at the base of a closed depression (doline) gives access to a slightly larger trunk passage, which descends north-northeast across loose debris to a funnel shaped depression of boulders a depth of 46 m. Halfway down the entrance slope, a sand-floored, 50 m long gallery arrives from a flowstone wall in the north-west. This cave is possibly a remnant of a much older and larger system. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi "ka ràm" is »a debt« but "ka rám" means »a jungle which has been cleared for jhum cultivation« (SINGH, N 1906: 170) while the verb "dah" has been translated by »to prepare (pan leaf and lime), to commence, to begin« and the noun "ka dah" is »a preparation (for sacrifice)« (SINGH, N 1906: 64). APPROACH: The entrance to this cave was reached from Wahlong (note 1) by a 30 minutes walk downhill (1.7 km as the crow flies south) along the path initially south towards Bairing (note 2) but then off east towards Therriaghat (note 3). The entrance lies about 20 m east of the path and in a large and steep sided closed depression (perhaps a collapse doline).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1995.11.22: An unidentified guide, procured by Brian D. Kharpran Daly and Lindsay B. Diengdoh, showed the way to the cave entrance, where H. Daniel Gebauer (book), Simon J. Brooks, and Christopher M. Smart mapped while Boycott, Antony 'Tony', Jennifer 'Jenni' or 'Jenny' A. Brooks and Estelle Sandford explored accessible parts of the cave. Brooks, S J relates »22-11-95 Return to Wahlong village and, with assistance of a local guide, explore, survey and photograph of Krem Soh Shiat [sic!], another small cave nearby [Krem Soh Shi'ap 2] and the impressive Krem Maw Ramdah« (Brooks, S J in: BROOKS, S J et al 1998: 17).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | Lyndad Pyngkat (Krem) | ||
| 1.5 | WAHLONG CAVE (Warren 2004) (aa -) | ||
| 1.6 | RI BLAI (Krem) | ||
| 1.6 | BOGDA, Shella - Bholaganj | ||
| 1.7 | SHONOB LIMPUT, Wah Shonob (Krem) | ||
| 1.7 | SHLEM KHLA (Krem) | ||
| 1.8 | LAIT (Krem U) | ||
| 1.8 | KOMORA 1 (Cave at) | ||
| 1.8 | KOMORA 2 (Cave at) |