DIENGNGAI (Krem)
25.184700,91.795800
Description
A collapse doline (roughly 25 m wide, 12 m deep) with flowstone (speleothem) covered walls gives access to a partly daylight-lit cave chamber where an exposed climb up or a tight ascending squeeze leads to a boring cave passage (4 m wide, 6 m high, 60 m long) followed by a relatively tight cave passage (0.8 m wide, 1.5 m high, 30 m long) leading north-east to a calcite blockage below the cave ceiling. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi "ka diengngai" is »an iron-tree« (SINGH, N 1906: 68), botanically Mesua ferrea Linn. 1753 (HARIDASAN & RAO 1985: 110-112). SITUATION: About one kilometre in a direct line from the lower margin (near N25°11'30”: E091°47'30”) of Nongjri proper, at about the same elevation as Krem –>Priang and Krem –>Longkurdom, and on north of the footpath which leads from the Nongjri - Nongjri Bazar bridle path west towards Krem –>LymputAPPROACH: Compare the approach to Krem –>Priang. When descending for about a kilometre along the bridle path (in parts overrun by the hard topped road) from Nongjri proper generally SSE towards Nongjri Bazar, watch out for the third mawliem (note 1), which has been erected on the east side of the path and near (±50 m) N25°11'07”: E091°48'00” (WGS84). Proceed about 25 m (or so) southwest to a T-junction near (±50 m) N25°11'05”: E091°48'04” (WGS84) and leave the bridle path (characterised by well-todden slabs of stone polished over decades by thousands of bare feet) for a footpath leading west towards Krem Lymput and beyond. At an estimated 500 m from the T-junction along the footpath west is another mawliem near (±50 m) N28°11'05”: E091°47'18” (WGS84) where the entrance to the cave named after an iron tree lies well-guarded by thicket-barred karst ridges some 50 or 100 m northwest from the path and at an estimated 50 m approximately southwest from the cave entrance to Krem Longkurdom. As usual, the help of a knowledgeable guide spoils not only the chance of running in circles but also to depend on incomprehensible but easy to interpret electronic gadgets.
NOTE 1: The Khasi "u mawliem" (noun) was said to be the word for a resting place erected at the side of a foot path or bridle track for the convenience of porters (personal observation). In both form and function the same as a chautara (Pahari a.k.a. Gorkhali, Nepali). Origin from "u maw" (noun), a stone, combined with "liem" (verb), lie on the back: »Khasis carry very heavy burdens, it being the custom for the coolie of the country to carry a maund, or 82 lbs. [37.2 kg] weight, or even more occasionally, on his back, the load being fixed by means of a cane band which is worn across the forehead; women carry almost as heavy loads as the men. The coolies, both male and female, commonly do the journey between Cherrapunji and Shillong, or between Shillong and Jowai, in one day, carrying the heavy loads above mentioned. Each of the above journeys is some thirty miles [48.3 km]. They carry their great loads of rice and salt from Therria to Cherrapunji, an ascent of about 4000 feet [1220 m] in some three to four miles [4.8 to 6.4 km], in the day« (GURDON 1904: 4).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1998.02.23: Guided by Langspah Rynkhun from Nongjri, H. D. Gebauer (book), Ian E. Chandler (compass and clino), and Brian D. Kharpran Daly (tape), mapped and simultaneously surveyed and explored, assisted by Refulgent Kharnaior and Raphael Warjri, who took photographs not only off and from the cave, but also back home.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | LONGKURDOM (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | PRIANG, Nongjri - Therria (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | MAWKHYMLONG (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | KHRIANG (Krem) | ||
| 0.9 | WAH REN (Krem) | ||
| 1.0 | WAH THYLLONG, Nongjri - Therria (Krem) | ||
| 1.2 | LUM BNAI (Krem) | ||
| 1.2 | LUBON - LUM BNAI (Krem) | ||
| 1.3 | LYMPUT (Krem) |