PENDA POT 1
25.233300,90.833300
Description
Two or three minor potholes have been examined in the vicinity of –>Penda Cave and close to the road ascending to the Balphakram (Balpakram) plateau. The widest (1 by 2 m) of three Penda Pots consisted of a joint controlled rift descending without an accessible dark zone 14.3 m to a boulder strewn floor. ETYMOLOGY: No locally known name has been identified for this pothole cave, the natural beauty of which had been enhanced, in February 1994, by the National Park staff with a gorgeous smearing of blue paint. SITUATION: About 30 m west of the road from the Balphakram Rest House to Chutmang peak and at the contact of the limestone immediately north of a road cutting flanked by a 3 m high and 10 m long limestone surface. BROOKS & SMART (1995: 44) place the three potholes at a travelling distance of about 7 km along the motorable road ascending from the »Foresters' Offices (Hatisia Beat, Mahadeo Range) to the Jawarlahal Nehru Helipad« (note 1). The three pots are to be found in an »area of obvious karst scenery (limestone pinnacles) that lie on either side of the track [motorable road], and just after the signpost to Penda Cave, where the track passes through a small cutting [estimated 10 m long and up to 3 m deep] to enter a small glade.« (note 2). PROSPECTS: »There are likely to be other pots in the immediate vicinity …« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 44).
NOTE 1: The »Jawarlahal Nehru Helipad« lies close to a prominent viewpoint overlooking the "Great Canyon" of the Mahadeo gorge separating the Balphakram (Balpakram) plateau in the south from the Pendengru Abri in the north. NOTE 2: BROOKS & SMART (1995: 21) were led to believe these »shafts« lie near to a certain »Chutmung peak« (sic!), the Chutmang Abri or Kailas (Kailash) Peak N25°18'25”: E90°44'53” (Everest 1830): 1023 m asl (Survey of India 78-K/11, 1973 edition) or 1026 m asl (*) in the north-east, north, and north-west of the villages of Chutmang Thansapal (N25°16'45”: E90°43'25” the »Hansapal« of RAJA RAO 1981: 75), Chutmang Gongrae / Gongraï (N25°15'50”: E90°43'55”) and Chutmang Agimpal (N25°17'00”: E90°46'30”) on the Survey of India 1: 50,00 sheets 78-K/11 (1973) and 78-K/15 (1972). The literally prominent (outstanding) Chtumang abri / Kailash peak, however, lies at a distance of about 12 km in a direct line approximately north-west from the Penda Pots on the approach to the Balphakram plateau culminating at 797 m asl near N25°16'04”: E090°50'17”: 797 m asl (WGS84 modified from N25°16'02”: E090°50'27”: 797 m asl Everest 1830, Survey of India 1: 50,000 series sheet 78-K/15 edition 1972). * GUPTA, A K & SHARMA, Narayan (s.a. circa 2004 ±2): Status of Hoolock gibbon (Bunopithecus gibbon) in Meghalaya.- (wii.gov.in/envis/hoolock_gibbon/meghalaya.htm accessed 2008.08.17).
Documents
Bibliography 24/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1994.02.20: Brian Johnson descended and a tape was lowered: »Simon, Daniel and Brian accompanied by local forest guides visited and descended shafts near to Chutmung [sic!] peak« (BROOKS & SMART 1995: 21). BROOKS et al. (1994b): »Leaving the Forest Guest House Simon, Daniel and Brian travelled some 6 kilometres along the track that leads from the Balpakram visitors centre to Chutmang Peak. At the point where the track passes through an area of limestone pinnacles, just beyond the sign posted entrance to the small Pendra Cave, two pots are found …«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | PENDA POT 2 (aa -) | ||
| 0.0 | PENDA POT 3 (aa -) | ||
| 1.8 | PENDA CAVE | ||
| 1.9 | Balphakram Vapour Pool | ||
| 1.9 | ARANG PATAL | ||
| 2.5 | KANAI CAVE | ||
| 2.5 | KANAI RESURGENCE | ||
| 2.5 | KANAI SINK | ||
| 2.5 | BANDINI JALANG, Kanai Nala |