KHATAR DWAR (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Not only a pair of corresponding cave entrances, which lie opposite across each other (the upstream one, facing south, is up to 1.9 m wide and 1.75 high and the downstream one, facing north-east, up to 1.6 m wide and 2.1 m high), but also a lateral cave entrance (facing north-west, up to 3 m wide and 2.4 m high) give access to a true tunnel cave indentified as stream cave (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss: 10-02-2014 Krem Khadar Dwar.doc). One of the three cave entrances is a 2 m high x 3 m wide, arched portal (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss: 10-02-2014 Krem Khadar Dwar.doc). EVALUATION 2014.02.06: More of labyrinth eroded out under a limestone spur than the expected long cave (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 6th Frebruary [sic!] 2014 Thursday). EVALUATION 2014.04.29: Through cave in limestone spur, stream passage (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). IDENTITY: Compare Krem –>Khadawso (Arbenz, T 2012). ETYMOLOGY: The recorded cave nmes Krem Khadar Dwar (note 1) and Krem Khatar Dwar (note 2) combine the Khasi word -khadar- or -khatar- (note 3) and -duar- (note 4) to signify, strictly said, a Cave [of] Twelve Entrances in the sense of Cave [with a] Handful [of] Entrances (note 5). SETTING: Above the orographically left (locally western) bank of the Kharkhur / Kharkor and about 300 m in a direct south-west from its confluence (N25°27'52”: E092°34'10”) with the Kopili River. SITUATION: In a limestone spur, 1.8 km NNE of Mooriap (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss: 10-02-2014 Krem Khadar Dwar.doc). APPROACH: At the bend near the Mooriap school take a right and pass the police station. Stay on the road, drive east and cross a first ford. The road, now a well used 4WD-track, swings west, crosses a second ford and turns east again. Take the next Shaktiman track to the south, drive on for 200 m and stop right above the entrance (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss: 10-02-2014 Krem Khadar Dwar.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012.12.26; The cave i a 28 m long labyrinth under a low limestone spur. A small creek is flowing through it. lateral joints and fissures form narrow windows and entrances, ten in number. The creek flows in and out again, which makes it two more entrances - hence the name of the cave. The main passage is slightly meandering and of comfortable size (av. 2 m wide x 2.5 m high) (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss: 10-02-2014 Krem Khadar Dwar.doc)). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.29: Krem Khadar Dwar, Mooriap, 28.0 m (-1/+0) through cave in limestone spur, stream passage (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). CAVE CONTENTS: A lot of washed-in flood debris, mud, and secondary calcite formation (speleothems) described as some small (relic) formations (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). CAVE LIFE: Khlur Mukhim was said to have mentioned lots of crickets on the rocky walls along with some big spiders, whereas the stream was home to crustaceans and big frog tadpoles (anonymous Brooks, S J e al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 6th Frebruary [sic!] 2014 Thursday). Keyword: The relatively big spiders (no size mentioned) can be interpreted (but this is mere guesswork) as Araneae: Arachnidae: Sparassidae: conf. Heteropoda whilst the relatively big frog tadpoles may represent the tailed aquatic larva of Amphibia (frog, toad) like Anura (Bufonidae or Ranidae). a 28 m long labyrinth under a low limestone spur. A small creek is flowing through it. lateral joints and fissures form narrow windows and entrances, ten in number. The creek flows in and out again, which makes it two more entrances - hence the name of the cave. The main passage is slightly meandering and of comfortable size (av. 2 m wide x 2.5 m high) (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 Mss: 10-02-2014 Krem Khadar Dwar.doc)). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.29: Krem Khadar Dwar, Mooriap, 28.0 m (-1/+0) through cave in limestone spur, stream passage (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). CAVE CONTENTS: A lot of washed-in flood debris, mud, and secondary calcite formation (speleothems) described as some small (relic) formations (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). CAVE LIFE: Khlur Mukhim was said to have mentioned lots of crickets on the rocky walls along with some big spiders, whereas the stream was home to crustaceans and big frog tadpoles (anonymous Brooks, S J e al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 6th Frebruary [sic!] 2014 Thursday). Keyword: The relatively big spiders (no size mentioned) can be interpreted (but this is mere guesswork) as Araneae: Arachnidae: Sparassidae: conf. Heteropoda whilst the relatively big frog tadpoles may represent the tailed aquatic larva of Amphibia (frog, toad) like Anura (Bufonidae or Ranidae).