, Auditorium
Bhutan—nestled in the eastern Himalayas—holds a largely untapped speleological potential. While best known for its sacred shelter cave temples tied to Buddhist history and mythology, the country's geology suggests a hidden wealth of unexplored karst systems. Bhutan's Lesser Himalayan Sequence includes extensive carbonate and metamorphic rocks that are conducive to karstification and cave development, especially where intersected by the region's active fault systems. Despite the presence of favorable lithologies, high-relief topography, and abundant surface karst features, systematic cave exploration and mapping remain minimal. In March 2025, a research expedition documented four caves located in eastern Bhutan in the foothills of the Himalaya. The caves are formed in marble and represent hydrologically active and fossil caves. All see use as sacred sites including one that housed a meditating Buddhist monk. Logistical challenges, spiritual protections, and remote terrain have thus far limited exploration and scientific work, but Bhutan's conservation-minded governance and openness to ecological research create a unique window for international collaboration. With careful coordination and respect for local traditions, Bhutan stands as a compelling new frontier for cave exploration.
Pat Kambesis and Jut Wynne
Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies, Department of Earth, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ