Trekking in the Sacred Forest will make you believe that why Meghalaya is compared with Scotland or any English countryside. There is beautiful green carpeted grass at the entrance of the jungle. The beautiful green land beckons you to its amazing environment paradise for photographers. The actual flavour of this sacred groove can be tasted with mystical vibes as soon as you step inside the forest and enjoy the serenity of this forest.
The distance view of the forest will remind you of some famous Hollywood movies. You can follow the whole trek with the small stream is flowing throughout the groove and can be of 3 to 4km. You need to hire a guide before you enter the 800-year-old jungle. Their rates are very reasonable and it’s according to the period you want to trek in the jungle. They are very gentle and knowledgeable. And remember the most important point- you cannot take anything out of this forest, else according to local beliefs, the deity gets upset. The main attraction is sacrifice-stones and pledge-stone.
Khasi Heritage Village:
It’s a model village just opposite the sacred forest. The Khasi Heritage Village exhibits the traditional lifestyle of the Khasi people. The village has houses built with mud and hay-sticks in the conventional Khasi style and has an amphitheatre. The Khasi people living around this model village still perform a few rituals in the forest and some cultural festivals at their amphitheatre.
You can feel the ambience of the village. There are ritual rocks that have been placed in the traditional Khasi style. The endowment of the forest by the local people has kept this wonderful nature preserved. The villagers’ belief of deity and its power have protected from the outlaws of modernization. If you love to travel slow then you might take daybreak at this amazing spot after Trekking in the Sacred Forest.
The top attractions in Cherrapunjee are its deep gorges, luxurious vegetation, and boast of an innumerable variety of ferns, moss, and orchids. It has alms of the Ram Krishna Mission and the Welsh Missionaries started their services in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. There is a famous orange orchard and apiculture around the city are some of the places to visit in Meghalaya. Sohra prevails the British Cemetry locally known as ‘Jingtep Phareng’ wherein eighteen British Officials of the East India Company (1830-1866) lay buried.
How to reach?
There are multiple choices to reach Sohra, Cherrapunjee. Shared taxis are available from Bada Bazaar or you may hire from City Centre. Be brave to bargain before you hire any taxi. For hiring a taxi one-way trip may cost around ₹400-₹600, it depends how good you are at bargaining.
Where to stay?
If you want to feel calm and hear the downrush of waterfalls, it’s the best place to spend a night. There are hotels available at Sohra. The best hotel I found was near seven sister falls. The reception and approach of the staff were very pleasant.
Experience Zip-lining:
If you love the thrill and want to experience zip-lining then it’s the perfect place. Mawkdok is the first viewpoint on the way to top attractions in Cherrapunjee. I must say you will experience the thrill. There are two different routes. One is a small parallel to one hill and the other is the big one across two valleys. The cost of the small one is ₹400 per person and the big one is ₹800.
It is better to book for ₹800 if you are ready to cross the valley, as it covers the route of ₹400 as well, for the warm-up. Their arrangement is really good and safe. The beautiful waterfall carves out of the mountain and forms into a small tributary that you can only experience from the top.
Living root bridge:
The double-decker living root bridges are handmade by Khasi and Jaintia tribes who have mastered the art of guiding the roots into the shape to the bridge. Some of the root bridges in Meghalaya are over 100 feet long and take about 10 to 15 years to get the perfect shape of the bridge. It can bear the weight of more than fifty people at a time It is used to cross the streams across the valley.
One such bridge is located near Mawlynnong village. Drive to Riwai village to reach the root bridge. From there, it’s approximately a 15-minute walk. There are many living root bridges around the hills. All are adorable. In recent double-decker bridges are endowed in the deep jungles of Meghalaya which are precious hard work of the locals. They are more difficult to reach in terms of transportation and long trek. This famous root bridge makes this place one of the most exotic tourist places in Meghalaya to spend a day
Mawlynnong village:
Around 80kms from Shillong, there is a small village- Mawlynnong which earned its status as Asia’s cleanest village in 2003. The streets of Mawlynnong, Meghalaya are lined with traditional Khasi huts with gardens that are full of colorful flowers. There are bamboo baskets outside every house to be used as bins. It’s the hard work of the children of the village who keep it clean.
You may have local Khasi food at their food stall which resembles a typical Khasi hut with machan connected to the verandah. You can know more about there hard works which keeps their village clean. The people are polite, gentle, and friendly and they love to share their experiences.
Dawki:
A couple of hours from Mawlynnong there is the Indo-Bangladesh border town of Dawki. The jeweled emerald water of the Umngot river. popularly called Dawki river owing to its location, looks as if belonging to another world is one of the top attractions in Cherrapunjee. The alcoves on both sides, coupled with the sound of rippling water and chirps of the birds can give one a heavenly feeling as of the fairytale setting.
You may hire a boat and go around the Umngot river and can witness the Bangladesh border and their patrolling boats or can stroll on the riverbank full of naturally chiseled round and shapely pebbles. The small town after which this lake is the most attractive scenic beauty is a must-visit for nature lovers.
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The West Khasi Hills are locally known as the “Bri U HynniewTrep” – Land of the Seven Huts. How the Khasis had come to settle in these beautiful hills and from where they had come still remains a mystery. Beautiful valley on the Nongstoin meandering across the road viewpoint is just relaxing with the fresh air around. You will never forget this place once visited. One of such places in Meghalaya is Nongkhnum River Island.
Nongkhnum River Island:
This is Asia’s second-largest River Island. To reach there you have to hire a taxi to take the ride of approximately 80kms journey from Shillong. The beautiful countryside views along the winding way are something to admire for though after Nongstoin the road gets worse with stones and dirt. You should carry enough food and water before you reach Nongkhnum River Island. You may sit on the beach to enjoy the blue water surrounded by hills and explore the islands.
There is a walking trail full of long bushes and trees. If you take a stroll of about ten to fifteen minutes among the bush, you can see the immense waterfall pouring down. The fierce sound of the waterfall with vapours formed around is breathtaking. Nature is at its best to give you a picturesque location with an amazing experience of colourful landscape.
