A family trip to the Land of Clouds...

Since the time I have been admitted to a University in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya I always wondered to explore many beautiful things and places here. Meghalaya is the land that you can have a scenic view of clouds floating between hills as you drive through. Everywhere and any moment you are bound to experience  breathtakingly beautiful scenes of lovely clouds as well as the feeling of cool and cloudy mists rushing towards and gives you a heavenly touch. That time you might feel indeed nature's bounty can never be described how well-defined it could be!.  A number of majestic and beautiful waterfalls and springs located here can be crossed a multiple times every place you explore in this state.

Meghalaya, 'The Abode of Clouds' is the state full of Scottish greenery and landscape with clouds floating bestowed a tourist attraction charm. It is popularly known as 'The Scotland of the East' in India.

Abode of clouds, Meghalaya

Seven Sister Falls,Cherrapunjee

I made up my mind for a summer-trip during vacations last year with my family members. After the final answer to which my parents agreed my Aunt and her two adopted kids and my youngest maternal uncle also joined for the lovely trip. Since the plan was sudden I believed that the vacation is that time of the year where a number of tourists flock into the city and that we do not make ourselves spend the night in street for not pre-booking any hotel earlier. I decided that I must somehow make a suitable accomodation of two rooms in my University Campus' Guest House which is indeed comfortable to stay with beautiful rooms and good bathrooms and lovely environment a glance out of window.

Me and  my parents set out from my hometown Nagaon ,Assam exactly at 7:43 am in a cab to Guwahati to pick up my Aunt with the kids. After we reached Guwahati we started off to Shillong at 10:00 am right away. The highway to Shillong was then on construction of four-lane roadways. So it took two and half hours to enter into the city and finally made our way to my NEHU(North Eastern Hill University) campus located in a hilltop of Umshing-Mawkynroh region. I entered the Guest House to make an enquiry about the rooms I have asked to book the other day. Relieved at the assurance of the rooms that were booked, we made each other comfortable for some moments of refreshment. We were hungry too so we helped ourselves with Chicken Biriyani that my Aunt prepared and packed from her home.

After a time of refreshments,talks and food we decided to explore some of the localities of Shillong.

We decided that we go to see the Shillong Peak first and we set off. As we moved out, there was the usual trauma of rains pouring in and drizzling over the area. Shillong peak was a half hour drive to Upper Shillong and luckily there was no traffic on the way but as soon as we neared the gate of registration to go inside,( as it was an Air Force cantt Area) a lot of cabs and private cars were seen filled with tourists, as I mentioned the Summer time is a tourist attraction to this place. We waited for more than 30 minutes till we reached the spot and showed my family tourists the enchanting view of Shillong from this Laitkor peak that is 1,966 metres above sea level.

The time and day was  lucky since the clouds cleared the view and we could see Shillong that was down with a height of 470 metres from the peak.

Shillong Peak 

However if this peak is visited during November days one can clearly see ahead a white lining of Himalayan peak ranges much higher than what you can imagine from Shillong Peak.

The next destination from Shillong Peak was the spot of Mattilang Park from where you could see the beautiful Elephant Falls. 

Elephant Falls is located near the Shillong Air Force  Headquarters, Shillong-Cherrapunjee road where a small pathway  diverted to the right from its the road leading to the falls.

From the hustle and bustle of the city we somehow managed to escape out of traffic by shortcuts to my campus and rested the night there. The next morning we packed our belongings with an aim of returning home the very day itself. The morning started our  journey at 7:00 am where we had breakfast at 7:45 am near Garikhana. Then we made our way to the 'Cleanest Village of Asia' i.e. Mawlynnong and to have a view of the living Root Bridge located in Riwai , 2kms from Mawlynnong.

After crossing the Pynursla village in Shillong-Dawki Road, there is a narrow road leading to Riwai, the journey would take you 20 minutes to reach the spot. The car was parked and we set out through the village to the root bridge. The narrow paths leading the steps down from where it could take you 10 mins to the root bridge. Soon after the well constructed paths came to an end, the steps made of big stones made its way down. I moved down with a sense of fear as on my left side down there flowed heavy currents of spring water and I only cared to move my feet slowly and steadily instead of running a fast heart beat  out of fear and excitement. After finally coming down I could find myself walking across the living Root Bridge crossing the spring. The bridge is originated from the roots of the Ficus elastica  tree where the commoners revealed that they earlier used to roll up the long thin roots that grew and in years these roots made a strong tie up with land on both sides.

We spent 20 minutes out in the root bridge as it was admirably beautiful creation of the living root bridge. We made ourselves ready in car to have a look in the beautiful and pollution-free cleanest village - Mawlynnong. The road leading to Mawlynnong is only 2km distance where you would park your car for root bridge spot. The village is a healthy and clean one and no one is allowed to litter anything here or there but only you dump in the bamboo-made dustbins hung or tied up in a post. The village has narrow and clean roads and each and every household has an exciting feature of standing stone fence around the entrance!.

We backed ourselves deciding we ought to go have our lunch in Indo-Bangladesh commercial town Dawki. Fortunate enough for a road that was mistakenly diverted by our driver, finally triggered the way to the border and we could beautifully see the landscape of Bangladesh approaching nearer.
On the way the majestic and beautiful waterfalls flowing downhill from the hills of Meghalaya and flown towards the border and into the river 'Umngot' . A cable bridge is pivoted at its ends connecting the border above this river.The scenic rocky banks of the river with rock mountains  floating upon clear green water is awe-inspiring. Many fishermen of India as well as Bangladesh can be seen with their boats in this river.

Dawki-Shillong road 

waterfalls near bop hill

River Umngot

If one would wish for a boat ride across the river, then a little while down the road would take you to the beach full of stones and pebbles and clear water. There you could hire the boatmen to take you across the other side to explore this beautiful beach and water. Since this is a Border Security Force area, many kinds of activities and expeditions take place. Rock climbing here is a thrilling and challenging experience of creeping the steep rocks, Scuba diving too would enhance you for a welcoming experience of the underwater world.

We then had our lunch there at a small hotel with fish servings and 'veg thali' and was good for an afternoon fill. We were driven off back to the city and we could stealthily escape the thick white mists and could hear clouds thundering taking place between clouds afloated between hills. We reached Shillong at 3:35pm as we started at 1:50pm from Dawki and then set off for our state Assam. Bidding a warm goodbye to our companions in Guwahati we left for Nagaon.

After a tiring journey that ended at 9pm, relaxed ourselves with a hot cup of tea and relishing the wonderful memories of the good day that ended well , set back to a wonderful sleep. And in our mind as well as in dreams only the thing that would always keep poking is 'Meghalaya, you are such a soothing heavenly beauty !'.