• ABOUT THE SPOT

Caving / Spelunking in Garo Hills, Meghalaya, Meghalaya India

Skill level:
Beginners and advanced
Best season:
November to March
Necessary gear:
Provided on spot
Duration:
5 to 6 days
One of the most majestic and extraordinary places in India is Meghalaya state. Located on the northeast side of the country, Meghalaya means "the adobe of clouds" and boasts a panorama of fertile valleys, thick tropical forests, amazing waterfalls, meandering rivers, 250 different species of orchids, an incredible variety of mammals and birds and endless, impressive caves. For the nature and adventure enthusiasts of the world, this is the ultimate destination.

Meghalaya is influenced by the southwest monsoons that start from May and last until October. Receiving one of the heaviest rainfalls in the world, and with an abundance of limestone mountains with elevation that exceeds 3280 ft/1000 m, the area has the ideal conditions for the formation of caves and is home to more than 500 caves with a network that spreads more than 621.3 mi/1000 km.

Garo Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range and comprise five districts with Tura being the largest town. As they lie within the eco region of Meghalaya subtropical forests, the area is favored with lush greenery and impressive waterfalls, as well as a wide variety of exotic plants and wild animals. One of the main attractions in Garo Hills is the numerous caves, that some are open for public, while others remain unexplored.

Some of the main caves in the region include Tetengkol Balwakol cave, with a small entrance and narrow passages that hosts a 3.5 mi/5.7 km long river, Siju Cave, which is the third longest cave in India and is known for its huge stalagmites and stalactites, as well as for the extraordinary river passages, Dangedikol Chiningkrikol cave, hosting a large number of bats and has a total length of 0.8 mi/1.3 km and Korekol cave, with an amazing entrance, many collapsed areas and cross rift champers that split and reunite in several sections and many tricky passages through shallow pools and impressive rock formations.

The caves are not located at the same spot and it is important not to go alone. Many schools use as a base, Shillong town or Tura, from where they organize guided tours toward the caves, as well as transportation. The caving activities include free hand rock climbing, swimming, crawling through narrow passages, rappelling and endless exploration. Guided tours provide all the necessary gear and make sure your caving adventure will be something you will never forget.

So prepare yourself for a unique adventure and you will witness with your own eyes, nature’s true wonders in a place that is considered to be heaven on earth for the cave lovers and adventure seekers!