Meghalaya is home to some of the longest and deepest cave systems in India. What makes the caves here so unique geologically and experientially for adventure tourists?
Meghalaya is known as the rainiest place on earth. The high rainfall and karst topography created various unique features and formations in the caves where water carves each and every detail of the formations for millions of years. The age that we live in at present which is known as the Meghalayan Age has been one of the significant milestone that has put Krem Mawmluh which is in Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in a map of the 1st Top Geo Heritage Sites in the world by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
Could you tell us about some of the most famous caves in Meghalaya that have become popular among adventure seekers – for instance, Siju, Mawsmai, or Liat Prah?
Siju Dobakkol or Siju cave is located in the Garo Hills near the Simsang river popularly known as a home for bats with approximately 4700 meters in length. It is one of the earliest surveyed cave and it has huge passages, massive limestone chambers, parts of it also has under water passages. Siju under the guidance of an experienced guide with proper gear can be fun and adventurous.
On the other hand, Mawsmai cave which is located in Sohra (Cherrapunjee) is the most touristy caving spot which is approximately 120-150 metres. I would not recommend visiting this spot as it can be very crowded during the peak seasons and its muddy and filled with water during the monsoon season that one might have to take off their shoes and fold their trousers up.
How has caving tourism evolved in Meghalaya over the last couple of decades, and what role has local knowledge or traditional cave lore played in shaping these experiences?
Most caves in Meghalaya have existed for many years and are also known to be of cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance to the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities. Many caves are sites of folklore, rituals, legends of clans and places od refuge during conflicts and wars.
In the late 1990s groups like the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) along with International Speleologists have started scientific exploration, survey, mapping and documentation. This has sparked as one of the attractions for tourists where show caves like Mawsmai and Arwah were artificially illuminated and basic infrastructure like walkways and paths for tourist accessibility.
Over the last decade, caving in Meghalaya has evolved from scientific exploration and study to commercial adventure activities where adventure seekers experience the sense of exploration of the subterranean world and wonders. I also run a tour operator specializing such immersive activities and one of the adventure activities is Caving where we take visitors exploring the depths of Mawmluh cave where the term ‘Meghalayan Age’ was born.
Regarding the cave lore, various narratives still shape the experiences, because of many myths and legends that reflects various spirits and traditional beliefs. There are caves that reflects histories of refuge and shelter during wars and conflicts back in the days.
What are some of the lesser-known caves that offer raw, off-the-beaten-path experiences for more serious or seasoned spelunkers?
It’s a Secret! We have more than 1,800 caves in Meghalaya, approximately 800 plus have been mapped, partially mapped, explored and partially explored. The rest remains a mystery. I would not disclose any name since I feel that these subterranean wonders should remain as they are without any human intervention except for scientific purposes. I have seen how many caves are damaged and destroyed through unregulated tourism activities. Another aspect is that caving is a dangerous activity if not done the proper way with proper trained and skilled guides. There are many factors that can lead to fatality if not done properly. On the other hand, Caving as activity for tourism purposes should be assessed and operated as per feasibility of the terrain to hold tourists and sustainability should be the main factor.
What kind of training or preparation do you recommend for visitors attempting a caving expedition in Meghalaya? How beginner-friendly are these adventures?
I would not call it caving expedition because expeditions are mainly for scientific and research purposes and usually takes almost a month to complete. Firstly, for visitors I would not recommend any who has claustrophobia. Next is that visitors need to understand that they are going inside a totally dark place and that the terrain inside will be rugged, there will be water wading sections, swimming sections, rocky sections, muddy sections, crawling sections, boulder chokes and many unpredictable terrain. For caving tours we mainly explore Mawmluh Cave which has all of these elements mentioned and is beginner friendly and fun at the same time.
Are there any new or unexplored cave networks recently discovered or opened to adventure tourism in the region?
Yes, there are few but we still lack trained and professional guides who will take tourists to such caves and these caves are yet to be assessed for cave tours. As an individual who’s passionate about adventure, we have come up with caving and canyoning training through an initiative from Duia Trailblazers Adventure Training Academy where local youths will be trained in the activities and through our tourism operations we shall send tourists to such locations where they will guide them and at the same time they will get employed.
How involved are local communities in caving tourism – as guides, hosts, or conservation partners?
So far there are very less guides for caving except in Krem Mawmluh.
Finally, what does the future of caving tourism in Meghalaya look like in terms of infrastructure, safety, and sustainable development?
I use to mention that if we can scale mountains and climb heights, so can we scale the depths and wonders of the subterranean world. Caving in Meghalaya will grow bigger and bigger. In terms of infrastructure, there’s not much requirement as we want to leave caves as they are except for show caves. We still need trained professionals so that safety is of utmost priority. Locals should be sensitized and made aware about the pros and cons of caving activity, how to safeguard and protect the cave environment, then only sustainable development will follow.
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