Mesmerizing Meghalaya

Back To October, the official Autumn season and best known for its Navratri or, Durga puja festivities in many parts of India makes special for babies born in October to plan holidays. But now a days you must have Covid-19 vaccination certificate for travel to places like state Meghalaya. Before second dose of vaccination, I never traveled instead of any urgency and planned this October only to get some energy in WFH so, I have decided to visit neighbor state Meghalaya.

Location : Sohra, Meghalaya

The beautiful name Meghalaya came from Sanskrit word Megha = rain clouds and Alya = Abode.

The name Meghalaya developed by geographer S.P. Chatterjee. Meghalaya is located in North-East India bounded by Assam state on its east, north and north-west and by Bangladesh on the south and south-west. The perpetual clouds, mists, huge waterfalls, limestone caves, lush green and dense forests, the living roots bridges makes Meghalaya a unique tourist destination in North-East India, will make you fall in love with Meghalaya. The State capital of Meghalaya is Shillong which is also known as “Scotland of East” for many similarities with Scotland.

Meghalaya is all the time best to visit however, to enjoy waterfalls and rains best time is June to September and November to February is best for tourist to enjoy scenic beauty in winter season.

October has less rainfall in Meghalaya and experienced hotter and more humid comparing previous years due to global climate change, crowd and deforestation in the name of development.

Meghalaya is most crowded tourist destination all the time in North-East India so, traveler must book accommodation in advance and be aware from fraudster online travel agency; I booked my hotel stay in Shillong city and on the way from Guwahati to Shillong I got informed about cancellation of check-In hotel due to renovation of hotel which was false claim; actually, already sold out which was not informed by hotel authority to agency. I was travelling with some like-minded youth traveler and among them one was from Ghaziabad came for the first time to North-East India. In our conversation I had shared the problem created by travel agency by cancelling check-in hotel.

The guy than contacted to person who had arranged his stay on call and confirmed availability one bed for me too made me relaxed. On the way to Shillong we have completed vaccination verification process within 5 minutes on highway arranged by govt. of Meghalaya for all tourist. We reached police Bazaar, Shillong within 2 hrs. and took local taxi towards our home-stay located in Laimukhra.

The guy came on main road to pickup us to his home-stay cottage “ILA” located nearby Ramakrishna Mission Dispensary. It was a very neat and clean shared budget accommodation and a kind of hostel for backpackers. We had decided to stay in same room and were planning our itinerary and at same time we met another guy who was also solo traveler from Chandigarh and became our travel mate.

ILA Cottage, Laimukhra, Shillong

We went out for dinner and chit chat with each other till 11:00 PM and planned our next itinerary. We hired bike for next day towards Cherrapunji arranged by Mr. Nigel, proprietor of ILA home-stay. You can also travel by shared taxi from Anjali bus stop at Bara Bazaar, Shillong to Sohra [ Sohra is another name of Cherrapunji]. To find this Sumo stands or, tourist cab you need to go main parking area at 1^st floor in station. For Solo traveler would like to suggest hire rented bike from Shillong or, you need to wait more time for other passenger to fill-up taxi to Sohra or, to Dawki.  If you are in group, take shared taxi for per person INR. 200 to Sohra. Tourist cab or, taxi is available from Police Bazaar area too. Hiring bike or, taxi is smart decision from Shillong to Sohra and Shillong to Dawki or, Sohra to Dawki to enjoy many mesmerizing tourists place on road. Dawki and Sohra both are located in different route so plan your itinerary properly. There are many types of accommodation available to stay in Cherrapunji and Dawki.

Nohkalikai water falls, Cherrapunji.

I went for short days to refresh mind so I have visited Sohra only and enjoyed most popular Nohkalikai water falls and nearby all Falls and cave only and returned to Shillong city on next day.

Krangshuri Falls, Sohra

Following are region wise list of tourist destination in Meghalaya in urban and rural Meghalaya to plan your itinerary.

Jaintia Hills :

1)      Dawki – Shnngpdeng for boating on crystal clear river water and camping.

2)      Krangshuri Falls

3)      Kudengrim Falls

4)      Nartiang Monoliths

5)      Ialong & Syntu Ksiar

6)      Nartiang Durga Temple

 

 

Khasi Hills:

1)      Sohra or, Cherrapunji

2)      Kyllang Rock

3)      Shillong City

4)      Mawlynnong Village

5)      Nongriat Root Bridge

6)      Mawhanlur

7)      Nongkhnum River Island

8)      Umiam Lake

9)      Arwah Cave

10  Dainthlen Falls

11   Mawsmai Cave

12   Noh Ka Likai Falls

13   Noh Sngithiang Falls

14  Khat -Ar-Shnong, Kongthong

15  Mawphlang Sacred Groves

16  Pynursla

17  Don Bosco Museum

18  Elephant Falls

19 Golf Links

20 Phan Nonglait Park

21 Wards Lake

22 Marngar Lake

23 Mawsynram

24 Weinia Falls

25  Lum Sohpetbneng

26 Laitlum & Smit

 

Garo Hills:

1)      Siju Caves and Rock formations

1)      Chandigre Rural Tourist resort

2)      Tura Peak

3)      Rongbangdare waterfalls

4)      Nokrek Biosphere reserve

5)      Balpakram

6)      Aminda Rangsa Art Village

7)      Tasek Lake

8)      Chibragre Picnic spot

9)      Chisobibra

10   Daribokgre

11   Memo Lake 

                👉For more information and budget home-stay please contact me directly.   

For best tourist place information and updates,You can download app launched by Govt. of Meghalaya

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Best Regards : Digu