EuroSpeleo 2016 Sessions

The Golden Years of Shnongrim Ridge - Caving in Meghalaya

Session code: OE1

Oral / Exploration, Main EuroSpeleo Conference

Mr Thomas Arbenz

Summary

Exploration of the caves of Nongkhlieh Ridge started properly in 2002 with the discovery of Krem Liat Prah, a system which has grown to become India’s longest since over the exploring years speleologists have found more caves in the vicinity and been able to connect them to achieve the Liat Prah Cave System at over 30 kilometres surveyed length.

This cave system lies underneath the northern part of Shnongrim Ridge – as expedition members used to call Nongkhlieh Ridge, when from 2003 base camp was installed on a patch of common land near the village of Shnongrim. This camp became home to seven successive expeditions until 2009, when exploration of this extraordinary cave region was terminated.

Biography

Born 1954, caving since 1970. Member, former Chairman of Swiss SSS (Club AGN). Member of British BCA (Club GSG).Since 2002 member of the Caving in the abode of Clouds Project, Meghalaya. Responsible for the surveying and co-leader of this expedition. Author of "Cave Perls of Meghalaya" 2012.