Immerse in the beauty of Meghalaya in 2022
Meghalaya is the heavenly state that gives you the peace and relaxation you are looking for in the stressed surrounding. One of India’s most beautiful northeastern states is formed with the combination of Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills.
Earlier it was a part of Assam but later became a different state but continues the justification of being a part of Assam with its beauty. Suppose you are planning for a vacation and are not finding any place, so you are missing something delicious.
Meghalaya is known for its tourist attractions and natural beauty. You will experience yourself closer to nature and experiencing the local life of Meghalaya while living along with the locals.
So these are some of the places that you shouldn’t miss, and plan your Meghalaya trip for the best fun.
Cherrapunji
Cherrapunji is spread over the beautiful edge of the marvellous mountains and lies on the edge of Meghalaya, near Bangladesh. It does not fail to amaze the tourists with its beauty, and the greenery attracts travellers and is not then heaven for trek lovers.
If you are a nature lover, you should not miss this place. You can experience a double-decker living root bridge, one of the top tourist attractions in Cherrapunji. Here the bridge was created by the locals as they tied up the living trees over the decades, and while visiting this, you can enjoy the trek from Tyrna Village and have some photography sessions for Instagram and can plan camping.
Cherrapunji has a lot to explore. You can also visit Nohkalikai Waterfalls and experience the majestic views of the place as it has a single fall that goes down a height of 1,115 feet and the lush greenery adds more beauty to the place.
Also, the list doesn’t end here; the place also has Mawsynram Village, a place where the god of rain rests and is known as the wettest place on the earth if you are finding a place to relax and the rains drop with a sip of tea, this is the best place.
The place is located in the eastern region of Khasi Hills, and you can go for birdwatching and a village walk.
Have you ever heard about Krem Mawmluh? Yes, this place exists, and your Cherrapunji visit is incomplete without visiting this place; it is a cave with stalactite formations, and it is a perfect place for trekking.
Balpakram National Park
Balpakram National Park is a place that is located in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya and is home to many different species of animals and also several kinds of vegetation like a bamboo forest, subtropical forest, grassland, tropical deciduous forest.
Also, the place has a myth that there exists a tree named Schima Wallichii, and it has a depression on its trunk, and the local believes that it is because of the spirits that rest on the braid.
Apart from that, the place is famous for animals like barking deer, red panda, marbled cat, Asian golden cat, Bengal tiger, wild water buffalo, Indian elephants and many more.
The best time to visit the national park is from November to May, and this place has also been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage. The area is also referred to as the land of spirits, and it has many things to explore.
Shillong
Shillong, which is often said as the Scotland of the eastern region, never fails to amaze the tourists with its beauty. The place is full of lush greenery, culture, magnificent waterfalls, lakes, etc.
While in Shillong, you can’t miss visiting Umiam Lake, which is surrounded by the thick forest & East Khasi Hills & is considered one of the most beautiful places to visit in Shillong.
This lake is known for water sports like kayaking, scooting, boating, water cycling, etc. It also has small islands and is an ideal destination for a picnic.
Apart from the lake, you can experience the Elephant falls, and if you are visiting Shillong in December, you will be amazed at the scenery. It is a three-tier waterfall in between the dense vegetation and looks at the local stores and local life.
Mawphlang Sacred Forest
It won’t be wrong if we say Shillong is blessed with immense beauty, and you will find it true when you visit the lush greenery, forests and waterfalls & Mawphlang Sacred Forest is one of them. This place is just like imagination, and the rainfall in the area fuels the scenic beauty.
People say forests are the reason behind the culture of Meghalaya and its traditions as well. The place is feared alike by locals as it has some mysterious properties, and they have experienced some supernatural happenings over the past few years. You can visit the forest from 9 am till 5 pm and avoid visiting the location during the monsoon season as it is hazardous, but apart from that, it is a magical place.
Some say it increases the travellers’ curiosity as the locals say nothing goes out of the forest, which might not seem severe.
You may feel what will happen even if a dead log or leaf sneaks out from the woods, but it is believed that if anyone tries to take anything out from the forest, it falls ills, and sometimes it turns fatal. One incident also happened with the Indian Army; after warmings from the locals, the Indian Army tried to take the log out of the forest, but the truck that was supposed to carry the record refused to start. This continued after several attempts stepped out. Since then, it has had a rigid belief that nothing can go out.
In the forest, you should watch the Picturesque forest trail, Khasi Heritage Village, Monoliths, Labasa, the deity of the forest and David Scott Trail & you won’t be disappointed with it.
Don Bosco Museum
Don Bosco Centre of Indigenous Cultures, also known as the Don Bosco Museum, is more like an institution with its publications, newsletter, research wing, and many more. It is considered one of the best museums in India & along with that, and it has been toured by royalty.
The place organizes many competitions & gatherings for writers, lyricists and musicians, and you can experience the whole museum in two to three hours. You will be getting the relaxed ambience that you won’t find easily between the collections. Don Bosco Museum has a total of sixteen galleries, and all of them are different from each other it has an art gallery, basketry gallery, ornaments & costume jewellery gallery, food gallery, fishing & hunting gallery, housing gallery and many more, which gives many knowledgeable things about respective fields to the tourists.
It is a perfect place to look into the area’s culture and learn about different tribes & their lifestyles. It is located in the eastern region of Khasi Hills.
Nohkalikai Waterfalls
Nohkalikai Waterfalls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India, with a height of three hundred and forty meters. It is located near the Cherrapunji region, known as the wettest place on the earth. Imagine the waterfall in the dampest area, how beautiful it will be, and the lush greenery.
In this place, you will find the water with a different shade of green. The fall is almost filled with water, but even in the dry times, the fall looks impressive because of the dense forest present in the surroundings. It is a perfect option for treks and camping and if you are a nature explorer.
Mawsmai Cave
Usually, we have heard about the Caves of Meghalaya. They have many caves located in regions like Khasi Hills, Jaintia and Garo Hills and are also among one the longest caves across the world.
If we count in India, out of ten, nine longest and deepest caves are found in Meghalaya. Mawsmai Cave is located nearby Sohra and is a well-known place. It is one of the ideal destinations for trekking and you can go through the thickly wooded area and in between you will experience birds sighting and many species of plants and trees which you won’t find any where else.
You will also get the ziplining facility and if you are a traveler, you can easily go for a tea break and enjoy the break. It is a network of underground caves which has beautiful rocks but sometimes are scary due to the formations and dark. You will find locals roaming around as it is a crowded place and a normal place for them but also has an option of hiking for travelers and you can also enjoy local food nearby.
Kyllang Rock
Kyllang Rock is one of the most visited locations which is situated at the distance of around 60 kms from Shillong. This place has a huge granite dome-shaped rock which is located in the western region of Khasi Hills.
It is locally known as the Lum Kyllang and is a unique tourist spot. You can call it as a monolithic structure which stands at the height of 5400 feet above the sea level, and the width is around 1000 feet. It is said that the rock as the magnetic properties and due to that anything does not falls down from the rock. Also, if you are an adventure seeker and are looking for a unique trek destination, it is the perfect place also you can hike to the top and enjoy the marvelous landscape view of the surrounding.
Avoid going for the trek or hike at the time of monsoon as it becomes very risky as Meghalaya receives a lot of rainfall, rest other seasons are pleasant for the tourists to visit and complete the trek.
Baghmara
Baghmara is a place that has a lots of lakes, flora, fauna, rivers and many more in its pocket, and that makes this place one of the top tourist destinations in Meghalaya. It attracts a lot of tourists with its beauty and the tourists remain amazed and in this region, you can visit Balphakram National Park which is located nearby and is a pleasant place for spending quality time.
The place is also known for its fish delicacies and they are exported to Bangladesh as well. The location has a huge amount of langurs, birds and elephants and don’t forget to visit the Siju caves, which is the 3rd longest cave system that consists a lot of labyrinths and chambers. The limestone rock arrangement is named as the Princess Di’s Chamber and it is sensational. The place is located in the South Garo Hills.
Tura
The tourism spots are never-ending in Meghalaya and one of the known tourist place is Tura, which is known for its beauty and many other locations. While you are in Tura, you can not miss to visit Nokrek National Park which is the core area of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and is located near the Tura Peak.
The place is also known as the hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya. Nokrek National Park has a good population of Red Panda and has gained a lot of attraction from all around the globe and it is also a place for Asian elephants and it is the home to 8 species of cats. Nokrek is a special place for bird sighting. Apart from that you can visit Pelga Fall, it is one of the attractions for tea spots or picnic and it is worth your visit, you can spend some quality time with your squad and enjoy the view.
You can also visit some other places like Mir Jumla’s Tomb, Chibagre, Darga of Hazrat Shah Kamal Baba, Tura Peak, Naphak Lake, Siju Bird Sanctuary and many more.
Dawki
Dawki is a small town that lies in the lap of Meghalaya along the border and it also separates the Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills and attracts the tourist for the fascinating river known as Umngot River which is also referred as the Dawki River.
Once you visit that place you wont be able to leave it, such a magnificent location it is but apart from that you can visit other places like Jaflong Zero Point, Burhill Waterfalls, Mawlynnong, Riwai, Shnongpdeng, and many more.
Meghalaya is a gem that we have in our country and is one of the best destinations for your vacation, it won’t fail to amaze you with the beauty and the welcoming people. Enjoy the local life and relive the culture.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
