In a significant achievement for Meghalaya and the Indian caving community. The documentary ‘Achik Kol: The Uncharted Caves of Garo Hills’, directed by Gregory Allya Warjri and produced by NOMADS Film, has been awarded 1st Place in the Professional Category at the 19th International Congress of Speleology, held in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, from 27th July to 2nd August 2025.
This prestigious global event showcased outstanding films from around the world, with 17 professional and 16 amateur entries from countries such as Brazil, Australia, Lebanon, Argentina, Hungary, France, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. The film was presented at the Congress by Jean Marc Jutzet and Roman Hapka, fellow cavers during the Core Geo Caving Expedition and received enthusiastic acclaim from the international speleological community.
Beyond this recognition, Achik Kol has gained momentum on other prestigious platforms: it was screened at the Hidden Earth UK Caving Conference on 22nd September 2024, at Le Festival des Voyageurs d’Ici in Marly, Switzerland on 24th November 2024 and at the Evening Club, Shillong on 6th February 2025.
The film will be screened in schools and colleges in the coming months to inspire young minds and future explorers.
The documentary was shot during the Core Geo Caving Expedition 2024 in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Founded by Thomas Arbenz and Ayush Singh, the Core Geo Caving Expedition brings together Indian and international experts to explore and document some of the country’s most remote and scientifically significant cave systems. A highlight of the 2024 expedition was the groundbreaking discovery of a prehistoric whale fossil in Tolegre—a find of immense scientific value.
This achievement not only puts Meghalaya on the global speleological map, but also celebrates the region’s rich underground heritage, storytelling tradition, and spirit of exploration.
Discussion about this post