Krem Chympe – the hidden gem of Meghalaya

The region contains well over 1,200 caves, and has the most caves on the whole Indian sub-continent.

NewsBharati    14-Jan-2022 17:42:37 PM   
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Many love going on adventures and look for ways to achieve that adrenaline rush through activities like trekking. But there exist other ones which, if explored, might just give you the same rush you look for. Let’s explore a new adventure today, one you might not have heard of before. Caving is a peculiar adventure activity which essentially includes exploring cave structures. This activity is certainly not one which many know of, or have explored, but has a unique charm to it.

Krem Chympe
 
Caves are places one can regard as an actual walk through time - as one is likely to lose the track of time, mostly due to the sheer lack of sunlight. From the bottomless canals to thin pathways, caves aren’t consistent in the area of their terrain - meaning that they will test the limits of your body. It demands crawling through messy grounds or squeezing through thin passages, but brings you closer to nature.

In Meghalaya, one can essentially touch clouds. The state didn't get the title 'Meghalaya' for nothing. The year-round precipitation, constant clouds and excellent weather have attracted tourists to the state, mostly to Shillong or Cherrapunjee. The food here is amazing and the people are helpful and welcoming. It is a beautiful state with a incredible climate, rolling fields, and always a sight for sore eyes. Let us now look at the most stunning cave which India has to offer.
 

Tourists who prefer a relaxing trip, go for one to Meghalaya. But a lesser-known fact is that the state isn’t just an amazing location for the relaxer, but is also ideal for the adventure traveller! We are talking about the outstanding adrenaline rush here, for they have caves! Yes, Meghalaya indeed is an incredible place for caving lovers. It is a caver’s heaven. The region contains well over 1,200 caves, and has the most caves on the whole Indian sub-continent. The reason for this prosperity of caves is the considerable quantity of limestone residues and the climate, which delivers a good amount of acid water to carve out these caves over millions of years. The caves of Meghalaya encompass a vast number of caves in the Jaintia, Khasi Hills and Garo Hills districts in the Indian state of Meghalaya, and are amongst the longest caves in the world.

The Krem Chympe is the nation’s 5th longest cave situated in the Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. The cave is situation at a walking distance of about 3 km roughly north along the path from the town of Khaddum to Sielkan. It is a stunning river cave, which does need over 3.5 kms of swimming, after crossing some extremely large and deep lakes, shaped by the existence of further than 50 natural blockades, 6-8 m elevated. This proves that one can definitely achieve the adrenaline rush he craves, in these caves.
 
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The cave also houses a huge colony of bats and some cave-adapted fish. With 10.5 km of investigated length, the cave has several heads yet to be examined. Sielkan Pouk, at the upper stretches, functions as a sink to the cave structure. There are an enormous number of caves in Jaintia, Khasi Hills and Garo Hills districts in Meghalaya, and are amongst the longest caves on the planet. Of the 10 longest and deepest caves in India, the first 9 are in this state, while the tenth is in Mizoram.

A few points to take note of before visiting caves are: Caving can be performed by anybody who is not claustrophobic and has basic fitness levels. Also, caving is supposed to be a team activity. Hence, never go out caving alone.

Caves are delicate ecosystems, so make sure to minimise your impact travel. Always stock up on your flashlights, gloves, knee guards, water bottles, elbow gear, headgear (with lights), climbing ropes, rock climbing tools, and also some small oxygen cylinders.

Kinjal Dixit

Kinjal Dixit has a degree in bachelors in English and is currently pursuing her Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has a hand at writing about infrastructure, culture and in sharing humanitarian stories.