In the land of clouds
Highlights: Living root bridges | local food | indigenous culture | cafes themed on rock-music | Cleanest river in India | Caving | Zip lining
Evocative and Astounding
No. of Days: 8
Overview: In Meghalaya, you will find a perpetual cover of cottony clouds when you look up and intensely green hills when you set your eyes around. Small low-roofed homes in sparsely populated hamlets keep the wind out and sprinkle a dash of colour to the otherwise decidedly green canvas. The state embodies nature’s best in a million large and small waterfalls, tropical trees loaded with fruits and acres full of spices, the famous living root bridges and a number of simple and difficult hikes. When nature is on its full display, the relationship of butterflies and insects with the plants is abundantly showcased. Across the border from this profusion of green, lie the hot brown plains of Bangladesh. The senses are immediately cooled when you see the mirror flat, and see-through waters of Dawki and Shnongpdeng in the south.
Meghalaya is also known for its adventure activities. Headlining this, is caving – where travellers can go on short and long expeditions of traversing the ancient cave systems with drooping stalactites and stalagmites. Then there are opportunities to camp, raft and even swoosh down the highest zip-line of the country.
What to Expect: It’s difficult to take your eyes off the window or hands off the camera trigger, when travelling in Meghalaya. The two main junctions, Shillong and Cherrapunji, offer a long list of villages to veer off to or tried and tested places of interest. Either way, there is no corner of Meghalaya that is not stunning. Eight days in the state can be planned to include the best of everything, including getting in on the local rock music scene, adventure, walking on the living root bridges and relaxing while watching the constant play of clouds and the sun.
