DOBHAKOL, Simsanggithim
25.470800,90.729200
Description
Another unidentified cavernous object appears to consist of a massive, unexplored river cave (note 1), which was found to contain speleothems and to be of a size »through which twenty men can easily walk side by side.« SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere near the village of Dobhakol Simsanggithim (note 2). Compare –>Dhobákhál. DE (1932: 38) narrates how »… we passed a rapid near Rongkandi [note 3]. Further down a stream named Nongwal [note 4] flows into the Simsang (photo III) [where there is] a coal seam about 4' thick … We continued our journey [downstream] along the river bed, the country here being much more rugged and steep [karst landscape?] and intensively jhummed. We passed a village called Dobhakol [note 5], meaning bat's nest. Its name derives from a lime stone cave in which bats are found in hundreds …« CAVE DESCRIPTION: »It is a huge cave through which twenty men can easily walk side by side. A stream is flowing through it and big stalactites and stalagmites adorn the interior. The roof of the cave has the appearance of a dome with fantastic patterns here and there and no Garos or visitors are known to have ever explored the whole length of it« (DE 1936: 205). CAVE POTENTIAL: »The Garos maintain that it is over half a mile [more than 805 m] in length, but this has neither been proved or contradicted« (citation needed) CAVE LIFE: Bats (Chiroptera) are »found in hundreds« (DE 1932: 38).
NOTE 1: DE (1932: 38) makes it clear this Dobhakol (Simsanggithim) is not the Dobhakol (Siju) by stating that »A much larger cave … exists near Siju village [–>Dobhakol, Siju] on the southern part of these hills.« NOTE 2: Spelled »Dobakkol« by MOMIN (1984: 28). After 15 km in a meandering riverbed, the Simsangri becomes navigable again downstream from Dobhakol Simsanggithim where it takes the Rongtham, a tributary from the north (CHATTERJEE, S P 1936: 26). OLDHAM, R D (1899: 154) lists among the geological faults in the central Garo Hills originating from the great earthquake on 12th June 1897 one with an upthrust of 7.2 m at Dobhakol Simsanggithim (CHATTERJEE, S P 1936: 62). NOTE 3: The two villages of Rongkhandi Songitcham (N25°28'25": E090°41'10": circa 260 m asl) and of Rongkhandi Songitaj (N25°29'05": E090°41'39": circa 300m asl) are shown on Survey of India sheet 78-K/11 (1972) at a linear distance of about two or three kilometres north-west of Nongwalbibra (N25°27'25": E090°42'10": circa 180 m asl). NOTE 4: The combined rivers Rongju, Rongmutha and Daju Chiring join the Simsang (Simsangri) near N25°27'10": E090°42'20") and immediately south of Nongwalbibra. NOTE 5: The village of Dobhakol Simsanggithim (N25°28'16": E090°43'40" WGS84 modified from N25°28'13”: E090°43'55” Everest 1830 : circa 90 m asl) lies just above the right (southern) bank of the river. Not far away (about 2 km north-east of Dobhakol Simsanggithim, and approximately half a kilometre from the northern / left bank of the Simsang) lies –>Dobhakol Nengphieng (N25°28'35”: E090°42'35”: circa 190 m asl).
Documents
Bibliography 28/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1936: Local people had explored more than estimated 800 m of walking sized passage where DE (1936: 205) saw »a huge cave.«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | DOBHAKOL, Nengphieng | ||
| 2.9 | MATCHAKOL, Nongalbibra - Patalgittim | ||
| 13.8 | DAJONG RONGKOL 1a | ||
| 13.9 | DAJONG RONGKOL 1b | ||
| 13.9 | DAJONG RONGKOL 2 | ||
| 14.1 | UPPER SIJU CAVE | ||
| 14.1 | AA CAVE, Siju Hat | ||
| 14.2 | AA CAVE, Siju Songmong | ||
| 14.2 | AA CAVE, Siju |