A 5
day trip to Meghalaya that covers Shillong, Cheerapunjee, Dawki and trek to
double decker living root bridge.
When you think of Meghalaya,
you imagine the massive waterfalls, the very famous living root bridge, the
wettest place on the earth and the hovering clouds. For someone who is a nature lover, Meghalaya
can be described as the paradise on earth. Some even refer to it as the
“Scotland of the East”
A beautiful three hour drive
from Guwahati Airport took us to the capital city of Meghalaya – Shillong which has been aptly known as
the “Abode of the clouds”.
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| Lake outside Guwahati |
Just a few kms before we
reached Shillong there lies the very famous man-made Umain Lake, in the lap of Mother Nature. We decided to stop at the
lake on our way back to the airport and continued heading towards Shillong
right away.
Shillong is a bustling place
where people are warm and friendly and the day was well spent in exploring the
by lanes for walks and the market where one could shop for souvenirs, curios
and cane artifacts. The weather was cloudy and very pleasant for a long
comfortable walk.
While walking towards Police Bazaar we explored Ward’s Lake and Lady Hydari Park.
Police Bazaar is the center
point of Shillong and is bustling with people. It’s the place where everything
is a stone’s throw away. All well known brands are available there along with
many local items too. Here you will also find many tour operators / drivers for
short trips outside Shillong.
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| Enroute Dawki |
Early next morning we headed to Dawki – which lies on India Bangladesh Border. We experienced
a serene drive through the clouds. On our way we saw the view which is known as
the Laitlum Canyons (Rock-On 2 was
shot here). The landscape was mesmerizing and one dare not blink lest he misses
something.
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| Dawki Lake at Bangladesh Border |
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| Dawki in Bangladesh |
Dawki boasts of the magnificent
Umngot River which has crystal clear
water and beautiful backdrop of hills. However, during the monsoon period the
water is muddy and is not clear; so it was a bit of a disappointment for us.
The perfect season to visit the lake is from October to February.
But, don’t forget to enjoy a
boat ride on Umngot River. You can also take the Dawki Suspension bridge to reach the last village Tamabil; and
click a picture on the India Bangladesh Border.
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| Bangladesh Border |
Next, we headed to the wettest
place on earth – Cheerapunjee.
Strangely it was not raining at Cheerapunjee. We saw few giant waterfalls like Naukhalikai falls, Seven Sister waterfalls etc. though not clearly as it was engulfed
with clouds. At Cheerapunjee do check out the Mawsmai Caves. It also an ideal stop over point for breakfast /
lunch as there are a variety of eateries to choose from near the caves.
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| Waterfalls |
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| Lets take a closer look |
The third day was the highlight
of our trip. Today we will see one of the amazing creations of Nature - where
the roots of Ficus Elastica tree are naturally intertwined for years to form
bridges to cross stream and rivers.
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| Entrance of Mawsmai Caves |
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| Inside Mawsmai Caves |
It was a taxing journey
downhill with stairs at most places but the fluttering butterflies, the
tropical forest, the beautiful landscape, the hanging bridges and the treasure
at the end of the trek – “the double
decker living root bridge” would make all efforts totally worth it.
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| Shades in Cheerapunjee |
On the way there are very few stalls, where you can rest, have tea/coffee, munch something and resume the trek. To reach the living bridge you have to cross two hanging bridges over a stream of water which is an adventure in its own. The first sight of the double decker living root bridge will leave you speechless. There is a small waterfall where you can relax and take a dip. If you are game for it, you can also enjoy a totally natural “fish spa” close to the bridge. Do ensure you cross the stream through the living bridge and click a memorable pic.
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| Double Decker Living Root Bridge |
The trek back can be strenuous
as it is majorly up hill and climbing steps. Before starting the trek, try to
ensure you carry minimum baggage and only the bare essentials. Stock yourself
up with some water / juice and chocolate bars (downhill and especially return
journey). Always keep yourself hydrated and conserve energy levels. Once you
finish the trek, don’t forget to feast onto the delicious pineapple and
cucumber packs.
After an exhausting but a very
fulfilling trek we headed back to Shillong. Just outside Cheerapunjee we
stopped over to enjoy the Wahkaba Falls
and have some hot maggi for lunch.
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| Wahkaba Waterfalls |
Enroute we saw the Elephanta falls which is a three tier
waterfall at the outskirts of Shillong.
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| Elephanta Falls |
We took it easy on the fourth
day of the trip as everyone was getting cramps in their legs due to yesterdays
trek. We headed to the Laitumkhrah
Cathedral Church which was a stone
throw away from our hotel and then headed to Don Bosco Museum which is a seven storey building reflecting the
indigenous culture, with various tools, clothing & artifacts on display.
All the North east cultures (of 7 states) are exhibited here. The roof top is
amazingly built and gives you a 360 view of Shillong. There is also a tiny
cafeteria where you can take a quick break and watch a 10 min film on North
East.
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| Laitumkhrah Cathedral Church |
The fifth and last day of our
trip, was a Sunday and Shillong was closed. Every shop was closed, even the
road were empty. After breakfast and exploring the market, we started from
Shillong towards Guwahati to catch our flight to Mumbai. Enroute we stopped at Umaim Lake (also known as Barapani) and enjoyed the cool breeze,
the placid water and the serene landscape.
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| Umaim Lake (Barapani) |
Though we were sad to leave the
place behind we were richer by tons of memories. We had seen only a part of
Meghalaya – a small part of East Khasi hills.
This was surely a trip which
re-ignited the flame to see this country and explore its nooks and corners.
Everything keeps changing every few miles – be it landscape, culture, dialect,
cuisine. So a lifetime might just be sufficient to soak in the beauty that
Meghalaya offers.
PS : That's us :
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| US - Nikhil, Nikita & Nupur |
