Introduction

The Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Project takes its name from the Sanskrit meaning of the word ‘Meghalaya’ which literally translates to ‘Abode of the Clouds’. This reflects the fact that due to its geographical location Meghalaya is often cloaked in cloud and as a result receives world record rainfall. The rain, added to a warm climate and extensive areas of limestone, has provided the perfect mix to created many fine caves, making Meghalaya of great interest to the International Caving fraternity. In 1992, a small team of four European Cavers were able to visit Meghalaya and the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills, finding many caves and, more significantly, realising the huge caving potential within the state. In 1994, contact was made with Brian D. Kharpran Daly and Donbok Syiemlieh of the Shillong based Meghalaya Adventurers Association and from then onwards the systematic exploration of caves across Meghalaya has been undertaken as an enduring partnership between Indian, European, Middle East and American Cave Explorers. Through this productive collaboration, supported by the Meghalaya State Tourism Department the following cave exploration visits under the banner of the ‘Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Project’ have been made.

Distances and new cave passage explored and surveyed during each visit.

As a result of the cave exploration visits listed above, the whereabouts of over 1,300 caves and cave sites are known, of which 825 have been explored to yield in excess of 377 kilometres of measured (surveyed) cave passage, with much more still awaiting discovery. Much of the cave passage that has been explored to date is impressive river cave, deep shafts and large and ancient relic passage. Together these features create cave systems equal in size and beauty to those found anywhere else in the world thus putting Meghalaya firmly on the world-caving map as a significant Cave and Karst Region.

In the achievement of the above the ‘Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Project’ is indebted to the help and support it has received over the years from; the Meghalaya Adventurers Association, the Government of India Tourist Office (East and North East India) Kolkata; the Meghalaya State Tourism Department; Officials and Government Departments within Meghalaya; and, very importantly, the People of Meghalaya. Acknowledgement is also given to the Grampian Speleological Group, UK for its regular financial support and the Ghar Parau Foundation and Mount Everest Foundation financial help at various times and NSS International Grant Fund for assistance in 2012.

However, the abundance of limestone and coal in Meghalaya makes the state not only of interest to the caving fraternity but also of interest to the commercial world, as limestone and coal are valuable economic resources. The initially small-scale extraction of limestone has in the last 10 years been replaced by larger commercial operations seeking to fuel economic growth in the region. To protect the environment, the unique landscape, the natural history and particularly the wonderful caves that exist within the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills. It is essential that the limestone and coal is extracted in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner if irreversible damage to the landscape and these unique natural features (The Caves of Meghalaya) is to be avoided.