Done with the #10YearChallenge? Now let us do #50YearChallenge on the political map of India. See anything interesting? That’s right. No sign of the seven sisters! That’s because all that area was known as Assam.
After 1963, four states came out of Assam. One of them was Meghalaya, which became a separate state on January 21, 1972.
Meghalaya is Hindi for ‘abode of clouds’. How did the place get this name? You will definitely know once you visit the state. Rain and clouds are a very common feature in Meghalaya. Due to the amount of rainfall Meghalaya receives, it is considered to be the world’s wettest region.
The terrain of Meghalaya is formed of a group of hills—Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia. The mountains are divided according to the different cultures that the dwellers follow.
Shillong, the Scotland of the East
Located in the East Khasi Hills is Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya. Just like any other hill station, the weather here always remains pleasant. Be it any time of the year, you are going to need a blanket at night. And yes, whenever you go out, do not forget to carry an umbrella with you. The rains are predictable in their unpredictability!
In Nature’s Lap
If you love nature, you will fall head-over-heels in love with this place. Thanks to the mountainous terrain, there are quite a few waterfalls here. Elephant Falls, or the three-tier falls, is the most well-known.
When in Shillong, you cannot miss the views. And Shillong Peak has the best one. It’s the highest point in the city. From here you can see the entire skyline, mostly engulfed in clouds. A tower there is equipped with a telescope for a better look. The peak is dedicated to a deity whom the locals call U Shulong Hi, which literally means ‘He came to exist by Himself’. It is from this Khasi phrase that the word Shillong has been derived.
Around one hour’s drive from Shillong is the Laitlum Grand Canyon. Standing here, you will feel as if you’ve been transported to an ethereal world. The canyon is shrouded in dense clouds most of the time. But if you are lucky, you will be able to spot many small villages down the hills.
Outside the city, Umiam Lake is a must-visit destination. The lake is popularly known as Barapaani since it is the largest water body in the area. While travelling from Guwahati to Shillong, you can stop at one of the viewing points for a panoramic view of the lake. You can also plan a picnic and indulge in various water sports activities like kayaking, water cycling, and scooting.
Other Attractions
Apart from this, there are many other places which must be visited. Ward’s Lake is an artificial horseshoe-shaped lake situated in the middle of the city. It is popular among residents and tourists alike. Lush green gardens with colourful flower beds surround the lake. One can indulge in some leisurely boating at the lake.
Another such park is the Lady Hydari Park. Next to the park is a small zoo where you can find Himalayan black bear, deer, and various types of birds, among others. The park also houses a museum where you can see preserved dried skin of various animals. The most eye-catching one is that of a giant python.
If you wish to learn more about the history, culture, and people of Meghalaya and its neighbouring states, you can plan a trip to the Don Bosco Museum, or the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures. It’s a huge museum, spread over seven floors. Every floor has different galleries on art, agriculture, religion, traditional costumes and jewellery, geography, hunting tools, and musical instruments of the north-eastern Indian states. Make sure you set aside at least two hours for the museum. And do not miss the skywalk located on the rooftop.
Hit the Markets too!
Meghalaya has more to it than nature and history. If shopping is in your mind, then Police Bazaar is your one-stop shop. Located right at the centre of the city, it is one of the busiest places in Shillong. Numerous people from Guwahati also visit this market for their shopping needs. At the centre of the market is a small park with oh-so-many Christmas trees. And from here, seven roads lead out like spokes of a cycle, housing all the shops. I would recommend going to the Khasi and Garo emporium shops which sell beautiful handcrafted bamboo and cane articles like hand bags, fans, wall clocks, key chains, baskets, and jewellery.
Best Season to Visit
Meghalaya is a place which can be visited at any time of the year. Bright sunshine, rain, or fog—the scenery here is always lit. The official monsoon season is from June to September. In these months, the gushing waterfalls are something worth seeing. And if you want to avoid the monsoon, you can go to Meghalaya between October and February.
The rest of Meghalaya
Apart from Shillong, there are other places in Meghalaya to visit as well. The most popular of these is Cherrapunji. At one point, it was the wettest place in the world. Cherrapunji has many waterfalls, the most famous of which is the Seven Sisters Waterfalls. If you go to the correct viewing point, you can get a panoramic view of the seven spectacular waterfalls.
The Thangkharang Park, the Mowsmai Cave, the Nohkalakai Waterfall (India’s highest waterfall) are also places one must see.
One thing you should definitely not miss are the living root bridges in Mawlynnong village, some 70 kilometres from Cherrapunji. These bridges are made up of entwined roots of rubber trees and a wonder of nature. The Mawlynnong village also has the title of Asia’s cleanest village. Cherrapunji too has a double decker living root bridge.
Meghlaya has many caves as well. But it is not advisable to venture into them during monsoons.
The Border
The Dawki or the Umangot river is about 70 kilometres from Shillong, at the Indo-Bangladesh border. This crystal clear river is the cleanest in India. So much so that you will be able to see the river bed easily while taking a boat ride in the river.
Festivals
The state hosts a number of colourful and diverse cultural festivals such as Behdienkhlam Festival, Wangala and Ranikhor festival.
How to Reach Meghalaya?
There is no railway line in Meghalaya. The nearest railway station or airport is Guwahati, which is 105 kilometres from Shillong. Guwahati is connected to all the major cities of India. Bus services of Meghalaya transport corporation and private transport companies are easily available from Guwahati to Shillong. It takes about three to four hours to complete the journey. You can also rent a taxi.
Shillong also has a small airport in Umroi. You can board an ATR.42 aircraft in Kolkata and land directly in Shillong.
Do you need a special permit?
To travel anywhere in Meghalaya, you do not need an internal line permit (ILD).
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your next holiday to Meghalaya already!.
