RONGBALJONG RONGKOL

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Two cave entrances (note 1) give access to an exsurgence cave (620 m mapped) limited by collapse in the upper reaches. The cave represents a subterranean estuary constituted by a substantial lake passage that is accompanied by a partly surveyed maze. A stream issues from the cave entrance (exsurgence) even during the dry season and flows for a short distance on the surface before it disappears into the –>Kutabram Sink. SITUATION (after H. Jantschke 2001.02.14 Mss -Rongbaljong Rongkol- 14 Feb 2001): From the northern end (N25°14'35.6-: E091°02.29.4-) of the small roadhead village of Chibak (note 2), which lies 2 km north of Khanjoy (Khongjoy, Khonjoy, Khunjoy), walk 40 minutes on a trail (initially towards 290°) across a sandstone plain, then down a short slope, across a small rivulet (no name mentioned), and some dry stream beds. After one kilometre a fork (near N25°14'37.7-: E091°01.46.5-) is reached. The smaller path to the left hand side leads after 300 m to the Rongbaljong Rivr. Here, the two entrances (note 3) lie another 100 m upstream, and in the back of a boulder field which possibly represents the relics of a collapsed part of the cave. CAVE DESCRIPTION: The entrance (5 m wide, 2 m high) is a double one: The left branch (true / orographic right) leads to a 200 m long lake and the right hand branch (true / orographic left) to a rift that develops into a labyrinth / maze. The orthogonal, joint controlled rift passages are interconnected, in parts, to a degree suggesting a pillared hall. This labyrinth runs along the right side of the lake passage (to deep to be waded) and connected to it at many places. The rock above the cave is but 5 to 10 m thick and pierced by several daylight windows. After 300 m a 2nd entrance is reached. This lies at the base of a closed depression (doline) where bamboo rods are interpreted to indicate frequent visits by anglers. TACKLE 1: Buoyancy aid, wetsuit.CAVE CONTENTS: Sand, driftwood, brown crust laquered pebbles (often cmented to up to 2 cm large agglomerates), flowstone speleothems (decaying in parts). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: Jantschke (2001 Mss: Indien 2001.02.12): Lindsay, Christine, Sudeb and Herbert drive with Sominic to Chibak, a village 2 km north of Khonjoy. The street ends here. A barefoot boy shows us the 40 minute long way to Rongbaljong. A small stream emerges from the entrance to flow into an idyllic glen. A mess of boulders, probably remnants of a collapsed downstream part of the cave, hide the 5 by 5 m large entrance. The barefoot boy guiding us happily clambers with us across the sharp edged boulders and shows us the double entrance. The left gate leads to a long lake that stretches far into the muntain. With the right-hand gate enters as a rift passage that soon develops into a complex of man-sized passages, criss-crossing each other at right angles and interconnected to a degree that gives the impression of a pillared hall. Orientation is difficult and Sudeb's help with scouting is imense. Again and again he pops up from one passage or another and shows us the best way on. This labyrinth, we learn, accompanies the Lake Passage on the right and is joint to it with numerous connections. The rock above the cave is rather thin at 5 to 10 m and pierced by many skylights. It is Sudeb who discovers a climbable chimney and 300 m further on we emerge from a second entrance in the base of a doline where lots of bamboo rods give witness to frequent visitors. Since the water of the lake is too deep for wading, we take a few photographs and return to the car. On the way back home Dominic almost dives into a deep ditch while watching bathing women (note 4). Jantschke (2001 Mss: Indien 2001.02.13): Today we took wetsuits and life vests and swimm comfortably across the 200 m long Lake Passage which ends collapsed a short distance boyond the 2nd entrance. Suded, wearing only jeans and life vest, is less comfortable but anyhow all the time in the water, compensating his disadvantag with an increased intake of pan. Mr. Boden, carrying a bamboo torch and candles, also accompanies all the way, taking a route through the maze adjacent right. At the 2nd entrance he lights a fire of the discarded bamboo rods which, however, rather smokes than warms. On the way back through the labyrinth we survey a few additional side passages but we could not cover all of it. The total length of the surveyed passages is 620 m and definitely increaseable. The journey back via Khonjoy to Borsora [Barsaura N25°12': E091°11'] is according to plan. Strange (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Jantschke (2003.02.14 Mss: Fahrtenbericht 2003.doc): Katrin [-Trillerameise- Zipfel], Peter [Dowswell] and myself are guided by Lolit from the village of Chibak towards north-west. A lake is formed here during the monsoon, several meters deep and covering some square kilometers. It drains through a blocked sinkhole, the Kutabram Sink, towards Bagli. At the western edge of the lake outcrops limestone hoting several labyrinrhic maze caves. The largest of these seems to be Rongbaljong in the lower reaches of this drainage. This was surveyed in 2001 to a length of 620 m and contains a substantial stream that even in dry times emerges from the main passage to disappear after a short flow [on the surface] in the Kutabram Sink. (note 6). PROSPECTS: The source of water was not located. A full survey of the maze will complete the cave plan, increase precision of the cave survey and the recordable passage length. CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use: Bamboo sticks (fishing rods or bat beating sticks?) indicate the cave is used as a hunting ground for fishes or bats. CAVE LIFE: Fish (locals said there are about 30 cm long blind cave fish). Jantschke saw bats (Chiroptera), frogs, freshwater crab (Crustacea), spiders (Aranea: Arachnidae), crickets. with an increased intake of pan. Mr. Boden, carrying a bamboo torch and candles, also accompanies all the way, taking a route through the maze adjacent right. At the 2nd entrance he lights a fire of the discarded bamboo rods which, however, rather smokes than warms. On the way back through the labyrinth we survey a few additional side passages but we could not cover all of it. The total length of the surveyed passages is 620 m and definitely increaseable. The journey back via Khonjoy to Borsora [Barsaura N25°12': E091°11'] is according to plan. Strange (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Jantschke (2003.02.14 Mss: Fahrtenbericht 2003.doc): Katrin [-Trillerameise- Zipfel], Peter [Dowswell] and myself are guided by Lolit from the village of Chibak towards north-west. A lake is formed here during the monsoon, several meters deep and covering some square kilometers. It drains through a blocked sinkhole, the Kutabram Sink, towards Bagli. At the western edge of the lake outcrops limestone ho with an increased intake of pan. Mr. Boden, carrying a bamboo torch and candles, also accompanies all the way, taking a route through the maze adjacent right. At the 2nd entrance he lights a fire of the discarded bamboo rods which, however, rather smokes than warms. On the way back through the labyrinth we survey a few additional side passages but we could not cover all of it. The total length of the surveyed passages is 620 m and definitely increaseable. The journey back via Khonjoy to Borsora [Barsaura N25°12': E091°11'] is according to plan. Strange (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Jantschke (2003.02.14 Mss: Fahrtenbericht 2003.doc): Katrin [-Trillerameise- Zipfel], Peter [Dowswell] and myself are guided by Lolit from the village of Chibak towards north-west. A lake is formed here during the monsoon, several meters deep and covering some square kilometers. It drains through a blocked sinkhole, the Kutabram Sink, towards Bagli. At the western edge of the lake outcrops limestone ho with an increased intake of pan. Mr. Boden, carrying a bamboo torch and candles, also accompanies all the way, taking a route through the maze adjacent right. At the 2nd entrance he lights a fire of the discarded bamboo rods which, however, rather smokes than warms. On the way back through the labyrinth we survey a few additional side passages but we could not cover all of it. The total length of the surveyed passages is 620 m and definitely increaseable. The journey back via Khonjoy to Borsora [Barsaura N25°12': E091°11'] is according to plan. Strange (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Jantschke (2003.02.14 Mss: Fahrtenbericht 2003.doc): Katrin [-Trillerameise- Zipfel], Peter [Dowswell] and myself are guided by Lolit from the village of Chibak towards north-west. A lake is formed here during the monsoon, several meters deep and covering some square kilometers. It drains through a blocked sinkhole, the Kutabram Sink, towards Bagli. At the western edge of the lake outcrops limestone ho with an increased intake of pan. Mr. Boden, carrying a bamboo torch and candles, also accompanies all the way, taking a route through the maze adjacent right. At the 2nd entrance he lights a fire of the discarded bamboo rods which, however, rather smokes than warms. On the way back through the labyrinth we survey a few additional side passages but we could not cover all of it. The total length of the surveyed passages is 620 m and definitely increaseable. The journey back via Khonjoy to Borsora [Barsaura N25°12': E091°11'] is according to plan. Strange (note 5). CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Jantschke (2003.02.14 Mss: Fahrtenbericht 2003.doc): Katrin [-Trillerameise- Zipfel], Peter [Dowswell] and myself are guided by Lolit from the village of Chibak towards north-west. A lake is formed here during the monsoon, several meters deep and covering some square kilometers. It drains through a blocked sinkhole, the Kutabram Sink, towards Bagli. At the western edge of the lake outcrops limestone hoting several labyrinrhic maze caves. The largest of these seems to be Rongbaljong in the lower reaches of this drainage. This was surveyed in 2001 to a length of 620 m and contains a substantial stream that even in dry times emerges from the main passage to disappear after a short flow [on the surface] in the Kutabram Sink. (note 6). PROSPECTS: The source of water was not located. A full survey of the maze will complete the cave plan, increase precision of the cave survey and the recordable passage length. CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use: Bamboo sticks (fishing rods or bat beating sticks?) indicate the cave is used as a hunting ground for fishes or bats. CAVE LIFE: Fish (locals said there are about 30 cm long blind cave fish). Jantschke saw bats (Chiroptera), frogs, freshwater crab (Crustacea), spiders (Aranea: Arachnidae), crickets.