KHANGBRU (Krem)
25.329900,92.562900
Description
A 10 m long (note 1) perennial stream cave (Jarratt 2003.02.28 Mss) with a flooded passage leads to an unexpected sump either 38.6 m (note 2) or 38 m (note 3) from the entrance. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi noun -ka khang- is a fern and the verb -khang- means to shut, to hinder, to forbid, to prohibit (SINGH, N 1906: 25) while the Synteng noun ”u khnam” is a small trap for catching fish (SINGH, N 1906: 34). Concerning 'bruh' refers SINGH, N 1906: 14) to Soh-bruh but lists among the many -soh- (fruit) only Soh-prew; The species of fruit of a creeper (Luffa Ægyptiaca), the cultivated variety of which is used as a vegetable (SINGH, N 1906: 209) Jarratt (2003.03.28 Mss: Cave Log 2003: 10/2/03) was led to believe the cave name Krem Khangbru translates into Cave of the Trapped People but this is obviously not a translation but a hint to the relevant cave legend (see below). SITUATION 1 (Jarratt 2003.03.28 Mss -Krem Khangbru- dated 28/2/03): At an unspecified location (note 4) somewhere at the wstern foot of the Nongkhlieh Ridge, far below the village of Daistong and at the level of the Litang (Leteiñ, Litien) flood plain. SITUATION 2 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06): Downhill of a Shaktiman track (unmetalled fair weather road) in the Letein [Litang River] flood plain. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Jarratt 2003.03.28 Mss -Krem Khangbru- dated 28/2/03): A fine cave entrance with a deep canal over 10 m long, about 4 m wide, with 1 m airspace. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06): An attractive entrance without identified shape and dimensions, which faces in an unidentified direction and gives access to a 3.7 m wide passage with low airspace sumping at 38.6 m, features (note 5) the surreal nature of this vaguely unnerving cave. TACKLE: To explore this cave, either underpants are necessary or swimming gear, wetsuit, buoancy aid, boat and video team in addition to an assortment of towels and a barber capable of combing dishevlled hair in addition to the usual bunch of servants, including palankin wallahs, chowkis, bearers, bishtis and the like (note 6). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend (Jarratt 2003.03.28 Mss -Krem Khangbru- dated 10/2/03, Jarratt 2003.02.10 Mss -Cave Log- entry 28/2/03): Probably a through cave to Krem –>Ksar 1. A nearby fallen rock (seemingly bedrock) is said to have trapped four people sheltering from rain. CAVE LIFE: Jarratt (2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06) saw a couple of dead fish (Pisces morti).stern foot of the Nongkhlieh Ridge, far below the village of Daistong and at the level of the Litang (Leteiñ, Litien) flood plain. SITUATION 2 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06): Downhill of a Shaktiman track (unmetalled fair weather road) in the Letein [Litang River] flood plain. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Jarratt 2003.03.28 Mss -Krem Khangbru- dated 28/2/03): A fine cave entrance with a deep canal over 10 m long, about 4 m wide, with 1 m airspace. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06): An attractive entrance without identified shape and dimensions, which faces in an unidentified direction and gives access to a 3.7 m wide passage with low airspace sumping at 38.6 m, features (note 5) the surreal nature of this vaguely unnerving cave. TACKLE: To explore this cave, either underpants are necessary or swimming gear, wetsuit, buoancy aid, boat and video team in addition to an assortment of towels and a barber capable of combing dishevstern foot of the Nongkhlieh Ridge, far below the village of Daistong and at the level of the Litang (Leteiñ, Litien) flood plain. SITUATION 2 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06): Downhill of a Shaktiman track (unmetalled fair weather road) in the Letein [Litang River] flood plain. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Jarratt 2003.03.28 Mss -Krem Khangbru- dated 28/2/03): A fine cave entrance with a deep canal over 10 m long, about 4 m wide, with 1 m airspace. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06): An attractive entrance without identified shape and dimensions, which faces in an unidentified direction and gives access to a 3.7 m wide passage with low airspace sumping at 38.6 m, features (note 5) the surreal nature of this vaguely unnerving cave. TACKLE: To explore this cave, either underpants are necessary or swimming gear, wetsuit, buoancy aid, boat and video team in addition to an assortment of towels and a barber capable of combing dishevlled hair in addition to the usual bunch of servants, including palankin wallahs, chowkis, bearers, bishtis and the like (note 6). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend (Jarratt 2003.03.28 Mss -Krem Khangbru- dated 10/2/03, Jarratt 2003.02.10 Mss -Cave Log- entry 28/2/03): Probably a through cave to Krem –>Ksar 1. A nearby fallen rock (seemingly bedrock) is said to have trapped four people sheltering from rain. CAVE LIFE: Jarratt (2006.03.04 Mss -Cave Log- vol. 13 entry 27/2/06) saw a couple of dead fish (Pisces morti).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2001.02.09: Rud Suklain of Daistong village told the cave name Krem Khangbru to Brian D. Kharpran Daly, H. D. Gebauer and Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt.2003.02.28, trip 1: Anthony 'Tony' R. Jarratt (2003.02.28 Mss: 'Krem Khangru' 28/2/03) was led to the attractive entrance. 2005.02.21, trip 2: Anthony 'Tony' R. Jarratt (2005.03.06 Mss: Cave Log, vol. XII, 21/2/05) in company with Graham Marshall and Fraser E. Simpson, and guided by Shartis Dkhar and Raplang Shangpliang, were chauffeur-driven by Adi [Addison Thabah] to Khaidong [sic! for: Daistong] with a tea and shortbread stop at the Dukan Sha tea shop. At Khaidong village [perhaps for: Daistong village] we got a local guide, Shartis [Shartis Dkhar], to show us seven new caves [Krem Brisyni 1-3, Krem Nan 1-3, Krem Sukbu] … We then collected two small boys and crossed the paddy fields to Krem Khangbru which I recognized from a previous visit. Fraser videoed much of the recce. 2006.02.17, trip 3: Brian D Kharpran Daly and 'Yorkshire Dave' Hodgson surveyed, guided by one Raplang Sukhlain (cowboy) and Menda Syih (pastor) with Sharkes Kharsyntiew (driver). Also along were Fraser E. Simpson, Imogen Furlong and Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (2006.03.04 Mss: Cave Log, vol. XIII) staging a fake cave exploration by boat: This trip was a bit of a jolly [folly?] … for Fraser to get some video footage of the dinghy in action. We took the Jeep to Daistong with Menda accompanying on his motorcycle. We walked down from the Shaktiman track to the attractive entrance of Khangbru where Imo and I took the trunktated M.A.A. dinghy in for a recce. The passage was 3.7 m wide but but low airspace meant near the end we both lay flat out in the boat in claustrophobc conditions. Fraser, Brian and Dave plus Raplang wearing only his underpants went in to report the cave sumping –later surveyed to 38.6 m by Brian and Dave. JARRATT (2006: 17) narrates the events as if the action was with the video actors and ot with the explorers: … the MAA dinghy —or to be strictly correct, half of it (a long story) … was carted down to the flood plain and inserted in the flooded passage of Krem Khangbru. Thence ensued a couple of hours of atrocious seamanship and ribald hilarity as lifejacketed would-be explorers attempted to navigate the good ship … under the rapidly lowering ceiling. Eventually a sump was discerned 38 m in and the whole circus wandered round to the nearby sink cave, Krem Ksar 1.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | KSAR 1 (Krem) | ||
| 0.2 | KSAR 2 (Krem) | ||
| 0.2 | KSAR 3 (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | SUKBU (Krem) | ||
| 0.6 | LIAT SDE (Krem) | ||
| 0.8 | NAN 3 (Krem) | ||
| 0.8 | RNGI (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | NAN 2 (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | NAN 1 (Krem) |