PAROAKOL, Nengkhong Chibigiri

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An estimated 10 m long short cave, which is well decorated with secondary calcite deposits (speleothems), was once visited at the base of a closed depression (estimated to be 40 m in diameter and 25 m deep). ETYMOLOGY: The Garo -paroa kol- is said to mean Pigeon Cave (Harper 2008.02.10 Mss: Paroakol.pdf).SITUATION: According to Harper (2008.02.18 Mss: Paroakol.pdf), a local guide essential to explain the whereabouts of Paroakol as it was understood to lie somewhere near one of the nine distinct Nengkhong villages in the vicinity of the confluence (N25°18'13”: E090°36'52” WGS84) of the Chibe River and the Rongdik. According to the recorded GPS position (note 1), however, the entrance to Paroakol lies some 350 m in a direct line from the western (orographically right) bank of the Chibe River and at linear distances of 400 m north-west from Matchakol (note 2) but 40 m higher up, 650 m ENE from the Makkrekol (N25°19'13.6”: E090°36'47.9”) of Nengkhong Chibegiri, 1.6 km NNE from thevillage of Nengkhong Chibigiri (N25°18'30”: E090°36'50” WGS84), and 2.2 km NNE from the village of Nengkhong Rangmatma (N25°18'15”: E090°36'35” WGS84). APPROACH: To reach the cave entrance, using 20 m rope to safeguard climb into doline might be advisable (Harper 2008.02.10 Mss: Paroakol.pdf).village of Nengkhong Chibigiri (N25°18'30”: E090°36'50” WGS84), and 2.2 km NNE from the village of Nengkhong Rangmatma (N25°18'15”: E090°36'35” WGS84). APPROACH: To reach the cave entrance, using 20 m rope to safeguard climb into doline might be advisable (Harper 2008.02.10 Mss: Paroakol.pdf).