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Meghalaya

Mawmluh cave

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map

January

3.2 - 20.6 °C

February

4.9 - 22.2 °C

March

8.1 - 25.3 °C

April

10.4 - 26 °C

May

12.4 - 26.5 °C

June

15.3 - 26.8 °C

July

16.4 - 26.9 °C

August

16.6 - 27.6 °C

September

15.6 - 27.9 °C

October

11.8 - 27.5 °C

November

8 - 25.6 °C

December

5.2 - 21.9 °C


Major Airports :

Shillong Airport (SHL), Shillong

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), Guwahati

Nearest Railway Station :

Guwahati Railways Station (GHY)

Major Airports :

Shillong Airport (SHL), Shillong

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), Guwahati

The Indian golden spike

Located 4503 meters above sea level in Meghalya's Cheerapunjee, the Mawmluh cave is more than just a shelter. It is a geological marvel and earth's most beautiful creation. This 7.2 km long maze cave is the 4th largest cave in India.

The cave which has various entrances has formed its Junction at an Eocene dolomite which is a geological time-defining epoch that is longer than a stage and shorter than a period. This Eocene dolomite found in Mawmluh is said to be the one that lasted from 56 to 33.9 million years ago. The junction of the cave is crafted between Eocene dolomite and sandstone defining its criteria of being a GSSP or a golden spike that shows the transition between the two geological periods and helps geologists all around the world.

With sandstone and Eocene dolomite formation, the cave is also filled with stalactites and stalagmites which are the dripping stone structures in caves that accumulate over time as the cave ages. These stalagmite accumulations adorn the cave and have been doing that over the ages, they add to the raw beauty of the cave and one can see how the earth has aged over the period for which it has survived.

A mark of history and legacy

The cave comes under the top 100 geological sites that were selected from 56 countries by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and now is an official International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) site as it is made out of the competition from many other sites.

The cave's stalagmite structures were the ones which eventually suggested its extremely long existence and also helped in determining that after the ice age around 4200 years ago, there was a 200-year-long drought that ended up destroying the civilizations but the cave stood still and survived as evidence of it.

This cave has a pool inside, formed by the culmination of five rivers, one-fourth of whose part is exposed to the sun. It is indeed an age-old marvel which now comes under the ‘First hundred IUGS geological sites in the world.’ It was a British officer Lieutenant Yule who found the cave in 1844 as he discovered India for treasures and active administration. Yule found the cave and little did he know in search of gold he had found a geological wonder of all time, and he should be thanked immensely for this huge discovery which is a legacy of not a country bit of the whole Earth.

The cave has its own stories associated with the Khasi tribe. Kreh is the word for a cave, and Mawmluh comes from a hamlet named after the cave. Some stories say that the cave is a safe shelter for spirits and elders of the tribe who also protect the cave while others believe that the cave has some sort of hidden treasure in it, eventually making it an important aspect for the tribe where they also worship and celebrate the spirits. And also celebrate this glorious creation of Mother Earth.


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Timings

Opening time - 09:00 AM

Closing time - 07:00 PM

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Beyond the caves

Apart from its beauty, the fourth longest cave in the rainy city of Cherrapunjee lends a lot of insight into the earth's formation. As you visit the other caves such as Mawsmai or Mawjymbuin cave and discover a similar fall of stalagmites, watch the cascading seven sisters fall that mesmerises one's eyes with every dripping drop.

For more natural wonders, you must see the connection of rubber roots that form the double-decker Living Root Bridge. The way the roots are woven to form a bridge leave you awestruck with the magic of the creation itself. For simpler experiences, visit the local areas and try out the local foods of Meghalaya. These are a delight to the taste buds!

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