GNIGIPA TSANGSIM CHIWARIKOL

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Two cave entrances (3.5 m wide and 4 m high, 2 m wide and 2.5 m high) give access to a complex cave in breakdown. SITUATION (note 1): At an estimated distance of 50 m in an unidentified direction from --and above-- the pool known as the -Blue Lagoon- (in Garo: Tangsim Chiwar? or Tsangsim Chiwari?), which coincides with the position described by Andrew -Andy- Peter Tyler (2001.10.11) for Skanggipa Tsangsim Chiwarikol, the –>Chongipa Tsangsim Sagakol. Both caves lie above the eastern (orographically left) bank of Mahadeo nala. Compare the –>Mingsingkol (Minsingkol) in the Rongra valley, which is possibly the same. APPROACH 1: From the Forest HQ. At Balpakram take the track to the Hellipad, halfway there is a path on the right that leads down into the Mahdeo river. At the river there is a large pool to the right, on the far side is a sandy beach the cave lies directly behind 50 m above and away from the river (Tyler 2001.05.29 Mss: Gnigipa Tsangsim Chiwarikol / Blue Lake Cave 2). APPROAC 2: Take a rough track from the Balpakram Forest Inspection Bungalow and office (I.B. / IB), through the forest car barrier and follow the east side of a huge valley. Where a sign saying Deobinwa (Blue Lagoon) and a signpost appears on the right (the peak Chimitap is visible at 320°), descend the forest trails for three quarters of an hour. The second bat cave (Dobhakol) we were shown on the Mahadeo River lies a steep 15 m climb above the eastern (orographically left) bank of the Mahadeo River, about 800 yards downstream of the first cave (probably –>Skanggipa Tsangsim Chiwari Kol) and an estimared … 200 yards downstream of Blue Arch entrance that may be the –>Skanggipa Tsangsim Chiwari Kol (after Colin Rogers 2001.03.21 personal communication). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The cave has two entrances, the first [possibly west facing] 3.5x4m involves a 2m climb into a 1.5x3x6m passage with an oxbow on the right. The passage drops back down a 6x6x15m chamber with a second 2x2.5m entrance on the let. Bach into the cave the passage is a2x3x25m passage with a daylight on the right and a crawl with a -T- junction on the left ahead is a3x2x20 m chamber with two ways on both lead to the same low flood over flow level (Tyler 2001.05.29 Mss: Gnigipa Tsangsim Chiwarikol / Blue Lake Cave 2). CAVE LIFE: According to Andrew -Andy- Peter Tyler (2001.10.11), it was Colin Rogers (2001.03.21) who noticed a variety of bats (Chiroptera: Microchiroptera, Macrochiroptera). Colin Rogers: Having at hand No rope tempted us to go on a search for a lower entrance but the loud noises were thought to be tiger.t. Bach into the cave the passage is a2x3x25m passage with a daylight on the right and a crawl with a -T- junction on the left ahead is a3x2x20 m chamber with two ways on both lead to the same low flood over flow level (Tyler 2001.05.29 Mss: Gnigipa Tsangsim Chiwarikol / Blue Lake Cave 2). CAVE LIFE: According to Andrew -Andy- Peter Tyler (2001.10.11), it was Colin Rogers (2001.03.21) who noticed a variety of bats (Chiroptera: Microchiroptera, Macrochiroptera). Colin Rogers: Having at hand No rope tempted us to go on a search for a lower entrance but the loud noises were thought to be tiger.