Mawsmai cave is another limestone cave that can be explored near Cherrapunji located in the state of Meghalaya in North East India. Therefore, part of the Khasi Hills constitutes limestone formation. Given the fact that this area is one of the most heavily endowed with rain throughout the globe, several caves are evident. Mawsmai Cave is facing great competition among the more than 200 caves in this region; however, Mawsmai is not a very long cave, covering only 250 meters. It contains many formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, and wonderful shiny calcite crystals layer it. These are relatively long caves, but for tourists, only 150 meters are accessible, while the other parts are prohibited. This wonderful phenomenon is a creation that has taken years of the natural process of carving by underground water.
Mawsmai Cave- Location And Accessibility
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Mawsmai cave is in the Sohra village in the East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya. It stretches about 56 km from Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya and is about 2 hours drive away. The road is excellent, covering long stretches of green hills, waterfalls, and valleys. One can hire a taxi or their own car from Shillong or board a shared taxi or bus from Bara Bazar or Police Bazar. The cave is about 6 km from Sohra town, and one can get the first glimpse of it from the signposts towards the cave. An adequate parking area can also be found near the cave opening.
Must Read: Places To Visit In Cherrapunji
Timings And Entry Fee
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Mawsmai Cave is open for visitors from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm daily, except on Sundays. The entry fee is about Rs. 20 per person for adults and Rs. 10 per person for children. There is also a camera fee if you have a camera along with you of Rs. 20 per camera. To help you into the cave, the services of a guide are available at Rs. 300 per group, and in addition to that, they will also give you details concerning some features of the cave and the history of the cave. It will be ideal if you visit Mawsmai Cave during the dry season because the climate would be more favourable during this period, which is from November to February. Exploring the cave becomes almost impossible during the rainy season, especially from June to September when the whole cave gets flooded and slippery.
Cave Exploration
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Cavers believe that Mawsmai Cave is one of Meghalaya’s best illuminated and developed caves. Its length is approximately 150 m, and height – about 10 meters. The cave has two entrances, one at a lower ground level and the other at the upper level. It is passable from one end to the other and barrier-free from one end to the other. The cave has many rooms and movement corridors that link them, but these are rather small holes and cracks. Others are tiny, and one has to bend down or crawl in confined tunnel-like spaces to get in. This contributes to the thrill and adventure of exploring the cave.
When you are in the cave, you will also be able to see the several types of deposits that are decorations on the walls, ceiling, and floor. You will be able to observe stalactites, which are formations that hang from the ceiling; stalagmites, formations that rise from the floor; pillars, which are formations where the stalactite formation is joined to the formation on the floor; curtains, formations that look like drapes; pools: these are formations containing water; fossils; formation of animals or plants that are now extinct, etc. Each has its shape, size, colour, and surface, producing an exquisite sight. It is also possible to listen to the dripping of water from the formations or to the water filling that flows through the cave. The cave exploration activity takes up to thirty minutes to an hour, depending on the pace one takes or the level of interest. Some parts of the cave are relatively dark, so you will need a torch or flashlight to see them. You will also need suitable shoes and clothes that can either be wet or filled with dirt. You should also bring bottled water and food because there are no stores or stalls in and around the cave.
Suggested Read: Caves In Cherrapunji
Nearby Attractions To Mawsmai Cave
Mawsmai Cave is one of the best illuminated and developed caves in Meghalaya. Its length is approximately 150 m, and height – about 10 meters. There are two entrances in the cave, one at a lower ground level and the other at the upper level. It is passable from one end to the other and barrier-free from one end to the other.
1. Arwah Cave
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The place is famous for limestone formation, and the fossils. It is amongst the best caves in Meghalaya and undoubtedly one of the best tourist attractions in Cherrapunji. Near the Law Shynna forest situated in Meghalaya, Arwah Cave is a delight for adventurers and history lovers. Mawsmai is a cave style of tourism and is slightly larger than today’s Kurunthop but only a portion of the entire cave is accessible to the tourists. Arwah Cave was the one discovered until recently and was the least explored. The interiors are quite dark and creepy, especially black, dusty, and sometimes a little suffocated if one crawls through the alleys. Being one of the largest caves in the world, there are numerous chambers and narrow passages in the cave.
Location: Cherrapunji, Meghalaya 793108
Distance from Mawsmai Cave: 9.2 km
2. Nohsngithiang Falls
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This waterfall is one of India’s tallest waterfalls and one of the must-visit attractions in Cherrapunjee. Nohsngithiang Falls consists of seven falls with a total height of 315 meters and an average width of 70 meters. Besides, the falls only cascade over the top of limestone cliffs of the Khasi Hills during the rainy season. Seven segments of the waterfalls represent the Seven Sisters, the seven states of North East India namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
Location: Nongkalikhai, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya 793111
Distance from Mawsmai Cave: 5.3 km
Suggested Read: Dawki River
3. Nongriat Root Bridges
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Nongriat village has one of the magnificent manmade structures popularly known as living root bridges which are made by the local Khasi tribes. This man-made bridge is constructed by joining an aerial structure of Rubber Trees around a Betel Tree truck placed on a stream. They just grow out and wrap around the trunk, and the bridge is extended to the preferred length, possibly taking 10-15 years to reach the intended destination. The roots harden with time as the bridge is made stronger with stones, sticks, leaves, bamboo, and any other available items that served as the bridge’s construction for hundreds of years. It is the only way the villagers can move across to the other side of the streams.
Location: Nongriat, Meghalaya 793111
Distance from Mawsmai Cave: 25 km
Further Read: Places to Visit in Meghalaya
Mawsmai Cave should ideally be on every traveller’s list of places to visit, especially for those interested in nature, adventure and culture. It is a centre where one can observe impressive rocks and the world of geology, go through the urge of caving and feel the history and culture of Meghalaya. Well, therefore, what are you waiting for? Do not wait and plan your trip to Meghalaya today and be mesmerized with the beauty of Mawsmai cave and other attractions.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mawsmai Cave
What attire should visitors put on to check out Mawsmai Cave?
The dress code is relaxed, however, it is recommended that visitors wear loose and comfortable items of clothing and footwear as the terrain in the cave is complex and might require boots because the ground is rough in certain areas and might be damp or slippery in some places.
What is the climate inside Mawsmai Cave?
The inside of Mawsmai Cave is always moderate in temperature and does not vary much over the course of the year, the temperature range being 16-18°C or 61- 64 °F.
Is Mawsmai Cave self-exploratory or do visitors have to follow the commercialized tour?
There are normally guides to take visitors through Mawsmai Cave and a guided tour is encouraged for a better experience but visitors can go through this cave on their own with guidelines from marked trail and safety measures observed in the cave.
What role does Mawsmai Cave play in promoting the area's tourism and what benefits can it bring to the economy?
Mawsmai Cave has a direct influence on the flow of tourist traffic in the area hence benefiting nearby business outlets, tourists and travel agents, hotels and other related service providers. The financial returns from tourism promote conservation and development projects designed for the peculiar location.
What are the geographical importance factors of Mawsmai Cave?
Mawsmai Cave is formed by limestone and produced by water erosion and other kinds of minerals for thousands of years. They stimulate learning when it comes to evaluation of geological activities that lead to the formation of stalactites and stalagmites.
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