LAITSHYNGIAR (Krem)
25.353600,91.904200
Description
A north-east facing cave entrance (about 3 m wide and 1.8 m high) gives access to an interstratal system of partly relic and partly active stream cave passages in a relatively thin band of Upper Palaeocene (Thanetian) Lakadong Limestone (Lower Sylhet Stage) with marly sandstone intercalations below a caprock of Lakadong Sandstone (Middle Sylhet Stage). The assumed association of Krem Laitshyngiar with far fetched subterranean watercourses and fabulous undergound tunnels connecting to the caves of Synrang U –>Dem and Krem –>Khliehriat Wah Spar gave not only rise to tirelessly persisting believes, according to which this cave is attractive, but also testify to the resident people's fascination by the unknown. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi cave name "Lait Shyng-iar" (note 1) has been translated »Spring Water Cave« (Raphael Warjri, Shillong, 1998.10.28 personal communication) and combines the Khasi word for a "way out" (note 2) with that for a »jet of water; stream of water; a fountain« (note 3). On the other hand, the Synteng Khasi "shyngiar" (noun) is the name of a »sacrifice performed in the traditional Khasi religion« (BAREH, H 1967 / 1985, 1997: 328). SITUATION: Just below the viewpoint "Lyting Larbri" (note 4) in the locality called Laitlyting, which lies at a walking distance of an estimated 500 m east from the village of Langkyrdem (note 5). APPROACH - Human use: A footpath, which was said to have been especially built to reach the cave entrance, leads from the village approximatley 500 m east and past the electrical power line to the edge of the plateau from where the footpath descends for a walking distance of about 100 m to the wet (in November) overhang sheltering the entrance to the cave proper. »It may be worth mentioning that the village Langkyrdem has the longest caves in our region. But till now these caves are not workable by public due to non-availability of renovation scheme« sites.google.com/site/langkyrdem/-mawpun (accessed 2013.01.28). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1995: Within 10 m from the cave entrance, the initially walking-sized relic stream cave passage (abandoned by flowing water) deteriorates to a shallow maze of hands and knees crawls across water-worn pebbles which indicate an abandoned subterranean flow of water from WSW towards ENE. At lateral lead, which commences some 40 m from the cave entrance and at the base of a 7 m high aven, represents a 30 m long crawl off SSE and intersects an active stream cave passage (on average 2.5 m wide and 2 m high) which runs parallel to the relic stream cave passage. The downstream branch gives access to an impenetrable boulder choke close to the surface at the edge of the Langkyrdem plateau. The upstream branch ends at the insurgence, the 3 m deep pothole of Krem –>Laitshyngiar 2 near (±60 m) N25°21'11”: E091°54'14”: circa (±25 m) 1555 m asl (WGS84). CULTURAL HISTORY - fabulous tunnel: The spring of water just below the entrance to »… [Krem] Lait Shyng-iar … till now has brought out gushing fresh water which has been used by the villagers for drinking and whose origin stems from a cave, whose exit, from the entrance of the Synrang U Dem [Synrang U –>Dem] lies here. In fact, there is another opening of the cave right to the foot of the valley called Riat Wahspar [Krem –>Khliehriat Wah Spar] to the west of the village.« »[Ki] Pubon (Caves) - Synrang U Dem & Khlieh-riat Wahspar -- Scientists from the Survey of India have found that the Village of Langkyrdem lies on a soil which is just above a rich reserve of Coal. It is also mentioned in their report that below this Coal Reserve, there lies a mammoth Rock on which the above Reserves are settled. But the most astonishing part is that below all the above layers, there lies a rich reserve of Limestone. Maybe, because of the presence of these Limestone that there are interconnecting caves. These caves originate (i) from the heart of the village in Synrang U Dem and which exits (ii) to the East in Lait Shyng-iar and also in Ryngknah (iii) to the West in Khliehriat Wahspar and in Swailieh (near NH 40) and even further beyond the village Langkyrdem« (note 6).
NOTE 1: sites.google.com/site/langkyrdem/ki-pubon---synran… (accessed 2013.01.28). NOTE 2: "lait" (Khasi; transitive verb) »to escape« (SINGH, N 1906: 109; SINGH, N 1920: 159); »to be free« (SINGH, N 1906: 109); »to get free« (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxiv); "lait" (Khasi; adjective) »free« (SINGH, N 1906: 109; SINGH, N 1920: 192). "kaba lait" (Khasi; noun) »an access« (SINGH, N 1920: 4) in the sense of ”kaba lait ban poi” (SINGH, N 1920: 4); »an aperture; a breach; a break« (SINGH, N 1920: 21, 53)."ka lait" (Khasi; noun), binomial imitative: ”ka lait ka let” (SINGH, N 1906: 109) »a mistake« (SINGH, N 1906: 109); »the liberty« (OLDHAM, T 1854 / 1984 appendix C: lxvii). NOTE 3: "ka shyng-iar" (Khasi; noun) »a jet of water; a stream of water; a fountain« (SINGH, N 1906: 200). NOTE 4: "ka lár" (Khasi; noun) »a kind of of omen in egg divination: a piece of the broken shell lying on the right-hand side of the "ka lieng" [the boat] -- the biggest broken central piece« (SINGH, N 1906: 111) but "u nái Lar" (Khasi; noun), a contraction of ”u bynái Lar" is the name of »the month of August« (SINGH, N 1906: 137). "ka bri" (Khasi; noun) »a grove; estate, a farm« (SINGH, N 1906: 14); »a plantation« (BLAH, E 2007: 226); "U 'Suid Bri" (Khasi; noun): »When the umbilical cord, after being tied, falls off, a puja is performed with eggs to certain water deities (ka blei sam-um and ka niangriang), also to a forest spirit (u 'suid bri or u 'suid khlaw)« (GURDON, P R T 1906: 124). 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/ki-pubon---synran… (accessed 2013.01.28).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1995.12.04: Peter Rynjah, then the Langkyrdem village headman, reported a »big cave« where »… one can drive with a jeep inside« (Brian D. Kharpran Daly 1995.12.04 personal communication with Mrs. D. M. Sohlia, Director of Tourism, Shillong).1998.10.28: H. D. Gebauer (book), Uwe Kalmbach (instruments), Paul A. Edmunds (tape), Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Raphael Warjri and Neil Sootinck commenced mapping the easiest accessible 186 m of cave passages. 1999.05.29: Gregory D. Diengdoh, Trevor, Lindsay B. Diengdoh, Toky, Conrad, Lon, L E Banjoe, B Banjoe and Allen mapped 42 m in generally small sized and uninviting crawls.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | LAITSHYNGIAR, 2nd (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | DEM (Synrang U) | ||
| 1.2 | KHLIEHRIAT WAH SPAR, Langkyrdem (Krem) | ||
| 4.7 | Saint Mary's Grotto | ||
| 6.0 | UR BAN, Pynursla (Synrang) | ||
| 6.1 | LOREN (Krem) | ||
| 6.2 | LOREN 2 (Krem) | ||
| 6.3 | PYNSHAD (Krem) | ||
| 6.4 | PHRIA (Krem) |